biogeochemistry
Life-meets-earth chemistry
Biogeochemistry is the study of how chemical elements cycle through living organisms and their physical environments—the movement of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other elements between rocks, water, air, and life.
The field bridges biology, geology, and chemistry to understand processes like nutrient cycling in forests or carbon storage in oceans: Biogeochemistry helps explain how ecosystems respond to climate change.
Light-to-sugar conversion in plants
- respirationGas exchange in organisms
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
- denitrificationMicrobial nitrate-to-gas conversion
- nitrificationMicrobial ammonia-to-nitrate conversion
mineralization · bioaccumulation · biomagnification · eutrophication · leaching · weathering · sedimentation · flux
Gaseous layer around planets
- hydrospherePlanet's total water mass
- lithosphereCrust plus upper mantle
- biosphereAll life on Earth
- oceanMassive saltwater body
soil · sediment · groundwater · wetlands · peatlands · permafrost · marine · freshwater
Study of environmental relations
- limnologyStudy of inland waters
- oceanographyScientific study of seas
- modelingSimulating or demonstrating form
- fluxesOngoing changes or flows
stoichiometry · IPCC · anthropogenic · emissions · sequestration · monitoring · datasets
Sixth element, atomic symbol C
- nitrogenElement seven, colorless gas
- phosphorusGlow-in-dark element
- sulfurYellow combustible element
- oxygenElement eight, colorless gas
hydrogen · iron · manganese · calcium · potassium · magnesium · zinc · copper
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- microorganismsMicroscopic living entities
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- fungiSpore-reproducing decomposers
phytoplankton · algae · decomposers · productivity · biomass · microbial · symbiosis · cyanobacteria
photosynthesis
Light-to-sugar conversion in plants
- respirationGas exchange in organisms
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
- denitrificationMicrobial nitrate-to-gas conversion
nitrification · mineralization · bioaccumulation · biomagnification · eutrophication · leaching · weathering · sedimentation · flux
atmosphere
Gaseous layer around planets
- hydrospherePlanet's total water mass
- lithosphereCrust plus upper mantle
- biosphereAll life on Earth
ocean · soil · sediment · groundwater · wetlands · peatlands · permafrost · marine · freshwater · estuary
ecology
Study of environmental relations
- limnologyStudy of inland waters
- oceanographyScientific study of seas
- modelingSimulating or demonstrating form
fluxes · stoichiometry · IPCC · anthropogenic · emissions · sequestration · monitoring · datasets
carbon
Sixth element, atomic symbol C
- nitrogenElement seven, colorless gas
- phosphorusGlow-in-dark element
- sulfurYellow combustible element
oxygen · hydrogen · iron · manganese · calcium · potassium · magnesium · zinc · copper · molybdenum
ecosystem
Interconnected organisms and surroundings
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- microorganismsMicroscopic living entities
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
fungi · phytoplankton · algae · decomposers · productivity · biomass · microbial · symbiosis · cyanobacteria · diatoms
chemistry, biology, chemical, biography, geometry, geology, alchemy, biological, geographic