Question

Describe how humans have affected the biogeochemical reservoirs and pathways of carbon that have contributed to climate change. What evidence exists that supports your answer?

Answer 1

Answer: -

Biogeochemical cycles are pathways for the transport and transformation of matter within four categorical areas that make up planet Earth (biosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and the atmosphere).

Biogeochemical cycles are components of the broader cycle that govern the functioning of planet Earth. The Earth is a system open to electromagnetic radiation from the sun and outer space, but is a virtually closed system with regard to matter. This means that the planet has minimal flux of matter, other than meteorite collisions and minor amounts of intergalactic particle trapping (or loss) by the upper atmosphere. Therefore, matter that Earth contained from the time of its birth is transformed and circulated geographically. This is in line with the law of conservation of matter which states that matter cannot be created nor destroyed but can be transformed including the transformation between matter and energy

The transfer of matter involves biological, geological and chemical processes; hence the name biogeochemical cycles derives. Biogeochemical cycles may also be referred to as cycles of nature because they link together all organisms and abiotic features on earth. Matter is continually recycled among living and abiotic elements on earth. Biogeochemical cycles facilitate the transfer of matter from one form to another and from one location to another on planet earth. Additionally, biogeochemical cycles are sometimes called nutrient cycles, because they involve the transfer of compounds that provide nutritional support to living organisms.

Pathways of biogeochemical cycles

Parts that comprise planet earth have been categorized into four spheres (regions). One is the sphere which has life and it is called the biosphere (it is the region occupied by living organisms such as plants, animals, fungi) and the other three spheres are largely devoid of life, they include; lithosphere (region occupied by soil, land and the earth crust), atmosphere (air and space) and hydrosphere (areas covered by water such as rivers, lakes and oceans). However, where the biosphere overlaps the lithosphere, atmosphere or hydrosphere, there is a zone occupied by living organisms.

Carbon cycle: Carbon is one of the most important elements that sustain life on earth. Carbon dioxide and methane gases (compounds of carbon) in the earth's atmosphere has a substantial effect on earth's heat balance. It absorbs infrared radiation and hence may contribute to global warming and climate change.