Biogeochemical Cycles

Biogeochemistry is the chemistry of Earth's surface. Or, in other words, it is physical geography through the lens of chemistry. Akin to the study of water moving through the hydrologic cycle, a biogeochemical cycle examines how a particular chemical element moves through the physical geographic spheres (i.e., the atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere). Viewed from the integrative perspective of the biosphere, this entry explores several of the major biogeochemical cycles, with a special emphasis on how these cycles affect—and are affected by—human society.