Biogeochemical Cycles
A biogeochemical cycle is a series of natural processes by which a chemical substance moves through both the biotic (biosphere) and abiotic (lithosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere) components of Earth. Several biological, geological and chemical mechanisms are involved to circulate chemical nutrients like carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and water etc. In effect, the element is recycled, although in some cycles there may be places (called reservoirs) where the element is accumulated or held for a long period of time (such as an ocean or lake for water). The most well-known and important biogeochemical cycles, for example, include the carbon cycle, the nitrogen cycle, the oxygen cycle, the phosphorus cycle, the sulphur cycle, the water cycle and the rock cycle. [1] [2]
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