Basic Concepts
In a nutshell: Biogeochemical cycles move elements through the environment, supporting all life.
## Essential Cycles in Nature
Biogeochemical cycles describe how important elements—like carbon, nitrogen, and water—move through the environment.
### The Water Cycle
1. **Evaporation:** Water turns into vapor and rises.
2. **Condensation:** Vapor cools and forms clouds.
3. **Precipitation:** Water falls as rain or snow.
4. **Runoff:** Water flows back to oceans and lakes.
### The Carbon Cycle
Carbon moves from the atmosphere into plants through photosynthesis, then into animals, and finally returns to the air via respiration or decay.
### The Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria turn nitrogen gas into forms plants can use. Animals eat plants, and decomposers return nitrogen to the soil.
## Why Cycles Matter
Disrupting these cycles can cause problems like climate change or water shortages.
Examples
- Burning fossil fuels increases atmospheric carbon, contributing to global warming.
- Fertilizer runoff leads to excess nitrogen in lakes, causing algal blooms.