Difference Between Carbon and Phosphorus Cycle

The carbon cycle is involved in the recycling of carbon compounds in the ecosystems. The phosphorus cycle is involved in the recycling of phosphorus in the ecosystems. The carbon cycle consists of a significant gaseous phase whereas the phosphorus cycle lacks a significant gaseous phase.

1. What is a major difference between the phosphorus cycle and the water carbon and nitrogen cycles?
2. What is the key difference between the phosphorus cycle and the other cycles?
3. How does the phosphorus cycle affect the carbon cycle?
4. How is the phosphorus cycle different from the carbon nitrogen and sulfur cycles?
5. What are the 6 steps of the phosphorus cycle?
6. What are the four key steps of the phosphorus cycle?
7. Why is the phosphorus cycle so slow?
8. What is unique about the phosphorus cycle?
9. Why is phosphorus a local cycle?
10. Does phosphorus contribute to global warming?
11. How do humans disrupt the phosphorus cycle?
12. What is the source of phosphorus in the phosphorus cycle?

What is a major difference between the phosphorus cycle and the water carbon and nitrogen cycles?

The phosphorous cycle does not include an atmospheric component because phosphorous does not cycle through the atmosphere. In comparison, important processes of the carbon and nitrogen cycle occur in the atmosphere (compare three images below).

What is the key difference between the phosphorus cycle and the other cycles?

Explanation: Phosphorous cycles through several components of the biosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere. However, it generally does not circulate through the atmosphere, unlike other biogeochemical cycles, like for example carbon or nitrogen.

How does the phosphorus cycle affect the carbon cycle?

Phosphorus and Other Elements

Phosphorus has no direct effects on climate, but does have indirect effects, such as increasing carbon sinks by fertilizing plants. Emissions of sulfur, as sulfur dioxide, can reduce the growth of plants and stimulate the leaching of soil nutrients needed by plants.

How is the phosphorus cycle different from the carbon nitrogen and sulfur cycles?

Correct answer: The phosphorus cycle does not include a gaseous phase, resulting in no significant quantities of atmospheric phosphorus. ... The phosphorus cycle does not contain an atmospheric phase, while both the sulfur and nitrogen cycles do.

What are the 6 steps of the phosphorus cycle?

Terms in this set (6)

• Weathering. Weathering of uplifted rocks contributes phosphates to the land. ...
• Fertilizer. Phosphate fertilizer applied to fields can run off directly into streams, become part of a soil pool, or be absorbed by plants.
• Excretion and Decomposition. ...
• Dissolved Phosphates. ...
• Geologic Uplift. ...
• Weathering.

What are the four key steps of the phosphorus cycle?

Steps of Phosphorus Cycle

Weathering. Absorption by Plants. Absorption by Animals. Return to the Environment through Decomposition.

Why is the phosphorus cycle so slow?

Because most phosphorus doesn't circulate from land to air, or vice versa, most phosphorus ends up in sedimentary rock, and only reappears via tectonic uplift over geological time scales. This makes the phosphorus cycle an extremely slow cycle.

What is unique about the phosphorus cycle?

Unlike the compounds of other matter cycles phosphorus cannot be found in air in the gaseous state. This is because phosphorus is usually liquid at normal temperatures and pressures. It is mainly cycling through water, soil and sediments. In the atmosphere phosphorus can mainly be found as very small dust particles.

Why is phosphorus a local cycle?

Phosphorus moves in a cycle through rocks, water, soil and sediments and organisms. Over time, rain and weathering cause rocks to release phosphate ions and other minerals. When the plant or animal dies, it decays, and the organic phosphate is returned to the soil. ...

Does phosphorus contribute to global warming?

Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for all organisms including plants, which through photosynthesis remove carbon dioxide -- the greenhouse gas most responsible for global warming -- from the atmosphere and bind it into organic matter.

How do humans disrupt the phosphorus cycle?

Humans affect the phosphorus cycle mainly by the use of fertilizers and raising livestock, especially hogs. Fertilizers and hog waste are high in phosphorus, which makes its way into the soil (where it is necessary in moderate amounts) and, due to runoff, in water.

What is the source of phosphorus in the phosphorus cycle?

Weathering. Since the main source of phosphorus is found in rocks, the first step of the phosphorus cycle involves the extraction of phosphorus from the rocks by weathering. Weather events, such as rain and other sources of erosion, result in phosphorus being washed into the soil.