What is Biogeochemistry?

duncan61 wrote:
Biogeochemistry is a relatively new scientific discipline that explores the physical, chemical, biological, and geological processes and reactions that govern the composition of and changes to the natural environment. In particular, biogeochemistry studies the cycles of crucial elements, such as carbon and nitrogen, and their interactions with other substances and organisms as they move through Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere (water and ice), biosphere (life), and lithosphere (rock). The field focuses especially on the diverse and interlinked chemical cycles that are either driven by or have an impact on biological activity, in particular carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus.

A prime example is carbon, the building block of life on Earth, and the planet-encompassing carbon cycle. Photosynthetic plants on land and sea take carbon dioxide (a form of inorganic carbon) from the atmosphere and convert it into the organic forms of carbon they need to live and grow. Animals that consume the plants incorporate the organic carbon into their own bodies.

Microbes eventually decompose dead plants and animals, and their carbon is recycled into soils and groundwater or swept into the oceans, where it becomes available to microbes and phytoplankton at the base of the marine food chain or it sinks and is buried in seafloor sediments. Over millions of years, carbon that is buried on land or at the bottom of the ocean becomes incorporated into rocks or hydrocarbons, where it might remain for tens to hundreds of millions of years. Ultimately, volcanoes return some of this carbon to the air as gas, where its heat-trapping properties affect Earth's climate, or else the rocks containing carbon are uplifted onto continents and gradually weathered, releasing their carbon back to the environment and making it available to organisms once again.

Why is it Important?
In a sense, chemicals are like currency, and biogeochemistry is the study of the nearly limitless "transactions" that drive the entire planetary system, including life on Earth. Understanding these fundamental processes provides crucial insights into how life formed, has evolved, is sustained, and is threatened on our planet, and how the various chemical cycles govern and regulate Earth's climate and environment.

Such knowledge enhances our ability to find ways to adapt to climate change and its impacts, enhance agriculture and food production, manage fisheries, mitigate pollution, develop alternative and renewable energy, prevent diseases and create new drugs, and spur innovations that can drive economic prosperity and improve our quality of life.

Straight copy and paste.Have at it

Im a BM wrote: Yes, there IS such as thing as "biogeochemistry".

Im a BM wrote: FACT: There IS such a thing as "biogeochemistry"

keepit wrote:itn, A funny example of einstein's quotes was "doing the same thing repetitively even in the face of disappointing results is one definition of insanity". For example, constantly repeating the phrase "stop spamming" even the it doesn't change anything fits the definition perfectly.

duncan61 wrote:
Biogeochemistry is a relatively new scientific discipline that explores the physical, chemical, biological, and geological processes and reactions that govern the composition of and changes to the natural environment. In particular, biogeochemistry studies the cycles of crucial elements, such as carbon and nitrogen, and their interactions with other substances and organisms as they move through Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere (water and ice), biosphere (life), and lithosphere (rock). The field focuses especially on the diverse and interlinked chemical cycles that are either driven by or have an impact on biological activity, in particular carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus.

A prime example is carbon, the building block of life on Earth, and the planet-encompassing carbon cycle. Photosynthetic plants on land and sea take carbon dioxide (a form of inorganic carbon) from the atmosphere and convert it into the organic forms of carbon they need to live and grow. Animals that consume the plants incorporate the organic carbon into their own bodies.

Microbes eventually decompose dead plants and animals, and their carbon is recycled into soils and groundwater or swept into the oceans, where it becomes available to microbes and phytoplankton at the base of the marine food chain or it sinks and is buried in seafloor sediments. Over millions of years, carbon that is buried on land or at the bottom of the ocean becomes incorporated into rocks or hydrocarbons, where it might remain for tens to hundreds of millions of years. Ultimately, volcanoes return some of this carbon to the air as gas, where its heat-trapping properties affect Earth's climate, or else the rocks containing carbon are uplifted onto continents and gradually weathered, releasing their carbon back to the environment and making it available to organisms once again.

Why is it Important?
In a sense, chemicals are like currency, and biogeochemistry is the study of the nearly limitless "transactions" that drive the entire planetary system, including life on Earth. Understanding these fundamental processes provides crucial insights into how life formed, has evolved, is sustained, and is threatened on our planet, and how the various chemical cycles govern and regulate Earth's climate and environment.

Such knowledge enhances our ability to find ways to adapt to climate change and its impacts, enhance agriculture and food production, manage fisheries, mitigate pollution, develop alternative and renewable energy, prevent diseases and create new drugs, and spur innovations that can drive economic prosperity and improve our quality of life.

Straight copy and paste.Have at it

duncan61 wrote:
Biogeochemistry is a relatively new scientific discipline that explores the physical, chemical, biological, and geological processes and reactions that govern the composition of and changes to the natural environment. In particular, biogeochemistry studies the cycles of crucial elements, such as carbon and nitrogen, and their interactions with other substances and organisms as they move through Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere (water and ice), biosphere (life), and lithosphere (rock). The field focuses especially on the diverse and interlinked chemical cycles that are either driven by or have an impact on biological activity, in particular carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus.

A prime example is carbon, the building block of life on Earth, and the planet-encompassing carbon cycle. Photosynthetic plants on land and sea take carbon dioxide (a form of inorganic carbon) from the atmosphere and convert it into the organic forms of carbon they need to live and grow. Animals that consume the plants incorporate the organic carbon into their own bodies.

Microbes eventually decompose dead plants and animals, and their carbon is recycled into soils and groundwater or swept into the oceans, where it becomes available to microbes and phytoplankton at the base of the marine food chain or it sinks and is buried in seafloor sediments. Over millions of years, carbon that is buried on land or at the bottom of the ocean becomes incorporated into rocks or hydrocarbons, where it might remain for tens to hundreds of millions of years. Ultimately, volcanoes return some of this carbon to the air as gas, where its heat-trapping properties affect Earth's climate, or else the rocks containing carbon are uplifted onto continents and gradually weathered, releasing their carbon back to the environment and making it available to organisms once again.

Why is it Important?
In a sense, chemicals are like currency, and biogeochemistry is the study of the nearly limitless "transactions" that drive the entire planetary system, including life on Earth. Understanding these fundamental processes provides crucial insights into how life formed, has evolved, is sustained, and is threatened on our planet, and how the various chemical cycles govern and regulate Earth's climate and environment.

Such knowledge enhances our ability to find ways to adapt to climate change and its impacts, enhance agriculture and food production, manage fisheries, mitigate pollution, develop alternative and renewable energy, prevent diseases and create new drugs, and spur innovations that can drive economic prosperity and improve our quality of life.

Straight copy and paste.Have at it

Im a BM wrote: Yes, there IS such as thing as "biogeochemistry".

Im a BM wrote: FACT: There IS such a thing as "biogeochemistry"

IBdaMann wrote:

Im a BM wrote: Yes, there IS such as thing as "biogeochemistry".

Nope. There is no such thing as biogleeclubministry.

There is chemistry.

Im a BM wrote: FACT: There IS such a thing as "biogeochemistry"

There is no such thing as bigcolostomy.

Im a BM wrote:

IBdaMann wrote:

Im a BM wrote: Yes, there IS such as thing as "biogeochemistry".

Nope. There is no such thing as biogleeclubministry.

There is chemistry.

Im a BM wrote: FACT: There IS such a thing as "biogeochemistry"

There is no such thing as bigcolostomy.

After nine years of... posting, maybe you should compile some of your "greatest hits".

IBdaMann and Into the Night, I encourage both of you to find the BEST of your past posts and compile them so they can all be seen together in one place.

The posts where you make the most convincing argument to prove your... whatever your point is.

I hope that they won't all be one liners like

Define your terms.

There is no such thing as 'climate change'.

Science is not...

You are a liar.

You are a moron.

You don't even know what science is.

Stop spamming.

Surely, after eight or nine years, you have posted something that is of lasting value and you are proud to share it again.

I mean, "Biogeochemistry debunked", for example. So much to be learned from it.

Please put together an album of your greatest hits, so people will have some idea what the eff you are even trying to say.

Or at least prove that you HAVE something to say.

Other than trolling other people's posts on threads you don't even understand.

keepit wrote: itn, He's not whining. He's trying to educate you.

keepit wrote: Myself, i like to cogitate on the issues that come up here.

keepit wrote: By seeing the nonsense that comes out here, i formulate better ideas.

keepit wrote:ibd, You're working way too hard. Relax.

duncan61 wrote:
Biogeochemistry is a relatively new scientific discipline that explores the physical, chemical, biological, and geological processes and reactions that govern the composition of and changes to the natural environment. In particular, biogeochemistry studies the cycles of crucial elements, such as carbon and nitrogen, and their interactions with other substances and organisms as they move through Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere (water and ice), biosphere (life), and lithosphere (rock). The field focuses especially on the diverse and interlinked chemical cycles that are either driven by or have an impact on biological activity, in particular carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus.

A prime example is carbon, the building block of life on Earth, and the planet-encompassing carbon cycle. Photosynthetic plants on land and sea take carbon dioxide (a form of inorganic carbon) from the atmosphere and convert it into the organic forms of carbon they need to live and grow. Animals that consume the plants incorporate the organic carbon into their own bodies.

Microbes eventually decompose dead plants and animals, and their carbon is recycled into soils and groundwater or swept into the oceans, where it becomes available to microbes and phytoplankton at the base of the marine food chain or it sinks and is buried in seafloor sediments. Over millions of years, carbon that is buried on land or at the bottom of the ocean becomes incorporated into rocks or hydrocarbons, where it might remain for tens to hundreds of millions of years. Ultimately, volcanoes return some of this carbon to the air as gas, where its heat-trapping properties affect Earth's climate, or else the rocks containing carbon are uplifted onto continents and gradually weathered, releasing their carbon back to the environment and making it available to organisms once again.

Why is it Important?
In a sense, chemicals are like currency, and biogeochemistry is the study of the nearly limitless "transactions" that drive the entire planetary system, including life on Earth. Understanding these fundamental processes provides crucial insights into how life formed, has evolved, is sustained, and is threatened on our planet, and how the various chemical cycles govern and regulate Earth's climate and environment.

Such knowledge enhances our ability to find ways to adapt to climate change and its impacts, enhance agriculture and food production, manage fisheries, mitigate pollution, develop alternative and renewable energy, prevent diseases and create new drugs, and spur innovations that can drive economic prosperity and improve our quality of life.

Straight copy and paste.Have at it

Im a BM wrote: "Life is acidic. If the ocean's pH level were to decrease and cross the threshold to become acidic, marine life could thrive like never before." - IBdaMann

Well, it wouldn't have to go down much in pH to cross that threshold.

Im a BM wrote: But it is very highly buffered against pH change by the carbonate system.

Im a BM wrote: If space aliens with super technology changed the world ocean from pH 8.2 to pH 7, marine life could NOT thrive like never before.

Im a BM wrote: But as we drive the slightly alkaline sea a LITTLE CLOSER to that pH 7 threshold, it is already diminishing the sea's capacity to support life.

Im a BM wrote:
"Rain is naturally acidic" - Into the Night

As they say, even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Yes, it is. Natural rainfall, NOT impacted by H2SO4 or HNO3, is acidic.

At 400 ppm CO2, rainwater has a pH about 5.6

Im a BM wrote:
The pH of rainwater can be calculated using Henry's Law.

Im a BM wrote:
If the concentration of CO2 doubled to 800 ppm, the pH of rainwater would be about 5.3

Im a BM wrote:
That is because carbon dioxide dissolves in water, and some of it becomes carbonic acid (e.g. ocean "acidification")

Im a BM wrote:
In contrast, sea water at pH 8.2, is 1.2 pH units on the alkaline side of neutral.
Well, it wouldn't have to go down much in pH to cross that threshold. But it is very highly buffered against pH change by the carbonate system.

Im a BM wrote:
But as we drive the slightly alkaline sea a LITTLE CLOSER to that pH 7 threshold, it is already diminishing the sea's capacity to support life.

Im a BM wrote:
Just as atmospheric carbon dioxide dissolves in fresh water to take the pH down to 5.6, it dissolves in sea water. Increased input of carbonic acid to the sea has taken the pH down from about 8.2 to 8.2

Im a BM wrote:
Increased concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has caused the "naturally acidic" pH of rain to decrease slightly.

Im a BM wrote:
However, this is not what is called "acid rain" (acidic deposition)

Im a BM wrote:
"Acid rain" is when sulfuric acid and nitric acid, from human activity, bring the pH down to 4 or even 3.

"Acid fog" can have pH as low as 2.

Im a BM wrote:
When the marble columns of ancient monuments started dissolving, etching little trails along the flow paths, people noticed that "acid rain" could have real impact

Im a BM wrote:
Sulfuric acid in rainwater is primarily the result of burning fossil fuel that contains sulfur.

Im a BM wrote:
Nitric acid in rainwater is primarily the result of burning ANYTHING. The high heat oxidizes some nitrogen (N2) to nitric acid (HNO3)

Im a BM wrote:
When I began my career as a biogeochemistry researcher at UC Berkeley in 1985,

Im a BM wrote:
"Acid rain" on the East Coast was about 2/3 sulfuric acid, and 1/3 nitric acid.

Im a BM wrote:
Coal burning power plants were the main source of acid.

Im a BM wrote:
"Acid rain" on the West Coast was 2/3 nitric acid, and 1/3 sulfuric acid.

Im a BM wrote:
Automobile engines were the main source of acid.

Im a BM wrote:
"It is not possible to measure the pH of the rain" - Into the Night

"Rain is naturally acidic" - Into the Night

Is it a paradox or just proof of omniscience?
...

Into the Night wrote:

Im a BM wrote:
"It is not possible to measure the pH of the rain" - Into the Night

"Rain is naturally acidic" - Into the Night

Is it a paradox or just proof of omniscience?
...

Random words and phrases. RQAA. No apparent coherency. No argument presented. Most spam deleted.

Into the Night wrote:
Stop spamming.

Im a BM wrote:

Into the Night wrote:
Stop spamming.

What evidence leads you to conclude that "rain is naturally acidic" if "it is not possible to measure rain pH"?

Show us how this science stuff works!

Into the Night wrote:

Im a BM wrote:

Into the Night wrote:
Stop spamming.

What evidence leads you to conclude that "rain is naturally acidic" if "it is not possible to measure rain pH"?

Show us how this science stuff works!

RQAA

Im a BM wrote:
If I ever bother to answer another one of YOUR stupid "questions" again..

Im a BM wrote:
It is either RQAA
or ...

duncan61 wrote:
Biogeochemistry is a relatively new scientific discipline that explores the physical, chemical, biological, and geological processes and reactions that govern the composition of and changes to the natural environment. In particular, biogeochemistry studies the cycles of crucial elements, such as carbon and nitrogen, and their interactions with other substances and organisms as they move through Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere (water and ice), biosphere (life), and lithosphere (rock). The field focuses especially on the diverse and interlinked chemical cycles that are either driven by or have an impact on biological activity, in particular carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus.

A prime example is carbon, the building block of life on Earth, and the planet-encompassing carbon cycle. Photosynthetic plants on land and sea take carbon dioxide (a form of inorganic carbon) from the atmosphere and convert it into the organic forms of carbon they need to live and grow. Animals that consume the plants incorporate the organic carbon into their own bodies.

Microbes eventually decompose dead plants and animals, and their carbon is recycled into soils and groundwater or swept into the oceans, where it becomes available to microbes and phytoplankton at the base of the marine food chain or it sinks and is buried in seafloor sediments. Over millions of years, carbon that is buried on land or at the bottom of the ocean becomes incorporated into rocks or hydrocarbons, where it might remain for tens to hundreds of millions of years. Ultimately, volcanoes return some of this carbon to the air as gas, where its heat-trapping properties affect Earth's climate, or else the rocks containing carbon are uplifted onto continents and gradually weathered, releasing their carbon back to the environment and making it available to organisms once again.

Why is it Important?
In a sense, chemicals are like currency, and biogeochemistry is the study of the nearly limitless "transactions" that drive the entire planetary system, including life on Earth. Understanding these fundamental processes provides crucial insights into how life formed, has evolved, is sustained, and is threatened on our planet, and how the various chemical cycles govern and regulate Earth's climate and environment.

Such knowledge enhances our ability to find ways to adapt to climate change and its impacts, enhance agriculture and food production, manage fisheries, mitigate pollution, develop alternative and renewable energy, prevent diseases and create new drugs, and spur innovations that can drive economic prosperity and improve our quality of life.

Straight copy and paste.Have at it

sealover wrote:
Sealover, PhD, just wanted a fair chance to have a rational discussion.

sealover wrote:
...deleted whining...
It turns out that it was too much to ask to be allowed to have a rational discussion about applied science and climate change.

sealover wrote:
The local trolls can't even figure out that biogeochemistry is a real word.

sealover wrote:
Biogeochemistry is a relatively new scientific discipline

sealover wrote:
that explores the physical, chemical, biological, and geological processes and reactions that govern the composition of and changes to the natural environment.

sealover wrote:
In particular, biogeochemistry studies the cycles of crucial elements, such as carbon and nitrogen, and their interactions with other substances and organisms as they move through Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere (water and ice), biosphere (life), and lithosphere (rock).

sealover wrote:
The field focuses especially on the diverse and interlinked chemical cycles that are either driven by or have an impact on biological activity, in particular carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus.

sealover wrote:
A prime example is carbon, the building block of life on Earth, and the planet-encompassing carbon cycle. Photosynthetic plants on land and sea take carbon dioxide (a form of inorganic carbon)

sealover wrote:
from the atmosphere and convert it into the organic forms of carbon

sealover wrote:
they need to live and grow. Animals that consume the plants incorporate the organic carbon into their own bodies.

sealover wrote:
Microbes eventually decompose dead plants and animals, and their carbon is recycled into soils and groundwater or swept into the oceans, where it becomes available to microbes and phytoplankton at the base of the marine food chain or it sinks and is buried in seafloor sediments. Over millions of years, carbon that is buried on land or at the bottom of the ocean becomes incorporated into rocks or hydrocarbons, where it might remain for tens to hundreds of millions of years.

sealover wrote:
Ultimately, volcanoes return some of this carbon to the air as gas, where its heat-trapping properties

sealover wrote:
affect Earth's climate,

sealover wrote:
or else the rocks containing carbon are uplifted onto continents and gradually weathered, releasing their carbon back to the environment and making it available to organisms once again.

Why is it Important?
In a sense, chemicals are like currency, and biogeochemistry is the study of the nearly limitless "transactions" that drive the entire planetary system, including life on Earth.

sealover wrote:
Understanding these fundamental processes provides crucial insights into how life formed, has evolved, is sustained, and is threatened on our planet, and how the various chemical cycles govern and regulate Earth's climate and environment.

sealover wrote:
Such knowledge enhances our ability to find ways to adapt to climate change

sealover wrote:
and its impacts, enhance agriculture and food production, manage fisheries, mitigate pollution,

sealover wrote:
develop alternative and renewable energy,

sealover wrote:
prevent diseases and create new drugs,

sealover wrote:
and spur innovations that can drive economic prosperity and improve our quality of life.

Straight copy and paste.Have at it.

Into the Night wrote:

sealover wrote:
Sealover, PhD, just wanted a fair chance to have a rational discussion.

But you are not rational. You are still locked in multiple paradoxes.

sealover wrote:
...deleted whining...
It turns out that it was too much to ask to be allowed to have a rational discussion about applied science and climate change.

You deny theories of science. Climate cannot change.

sealover wrote:
The local trolls can't even figure out that biogeochemistry is a real word.

Buzzword fallacy. There is no such thing as 'biogeochemistry'.

sealover wrote:
Biogeochemistry is a relatively new scientific discipline

Science is not buzzwords.

sealover wrote:
that explores the physical, chemical, biological, and geological processes and reactions that govern the composition of and changes to the natural environment.

A nothing statement.

sealover wrote:
In particular, biogeochemistry studies the cycles of crucial elements, such as carbon and nitrogen, and their interactions with other substances and organisms as they move through Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere (water and ice), biosphere (life), and lithosphere (rock).

Define a 'crucial' element. Why is one element more or less 'crucial' than any other?

sealover wrote:
The field focuses especially on the diverse and interlinked chemical cycles that are either driven by or have an impact on biological activity, in particular carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus.

You deny chemistry.

sealover wrote:
A prime example is carbon, the building block of life on Earth, and the planet-encompassing carbon cycle. Photosynthetic plants on land and sea take carbon dioxide (a form of inorganic carbon)

Carbon is not carbon dioxide. Carbon is not organic. Carbon dioxide is not organic.

sealover wrote:
from the atmosphere and convert it into the organic forms of carbon

Carbon is not organic.

sealover wrote:
they need to live and grow. Animals that consume the plants incorporate the organic carbon into their own bodies.

Carbon is not organic.

sealover wrote:
Microbes eventually decompose dead plants and animals, and their carbon is recycled into soils and groundwater or swept into the oceans, where it becomes available to microbes and phytoplankton at the base of the marine food chain or it sinks and is buried in seafloor sediments. Over millions of years, carbon that is buried on land or at the bottom of the ocean becomes incorporated into rocks or hydrocarbons, where it might remain for tens to hundreds of millions of years.

Calcium carbonate is not a hydrocarbon.

sealover wrote:
Ultimately, volcanoes return some of this carbon to the air as gas, where its heat-trapping properties

It is not possible to trap heat.

sealover wrote:
affect Earth's climate,

There is no such thing as a global climate.

sealover wrote:
or else the rocks containing carbon are uplifted onto continents and gradually weathered, releasing their carbon back to the environment and making it available to organisms once again.

Why is it Important?
In a sense, chemicals are like currency, and biogeochemistry is the study of the nearly limitless "transactions" that drive the entire planetary system, including life on Earth.

There is no such thing as 'biogeochemistry'. You cannot claim all of science as 'biogeochemistry'.

sealover wrote:
Understanding these fundamental processes provides crucial insights into how life formed, has evolved, is sustained, and is threatened on our planet, and how the various chemical cycles govern and regulate Earth's climate and environment.

How do you know life formed on this planet? There is no such thing as a global climate. There is no 'governor' or 'regulator' of any climate.

sealover wrote:
Such knowledge enhances our ability to find ways to adapt to climate change

Climate cannot change.

sealover wrote:
and its impacts, enhance agriculture and food production, manage fisheries, mitigate pollution,

Define this 'pollution'. Climate cannot change.

sealover wrote:
develop alternative and renewable energy,

What the **** is 'alternative and renewable energy'?? Buzzword fallacy.

sealover wrote:
prevent diseases and create new drugs,

You cannot prevent disease. You cannot use a buzzword to describe all of chemistry or all of science.

sealover wrote:
and spur innovations that can drive economic prosperity and improve our quality of life.

Straight copy and paste.Have at it.

Science is not engineering.

Obviously you have no innovation. You just copy and paste mindlessly, Robert.

Im a BM wrote:
"There is no such thing as biogeochemistry" - Into the Night

Very few people are aware of this fact.

Most people have simply never heard of biogeochemistry.

Im a BM wrote:
Most people do not have the infallible scientific omniscience to be aware that there is simply no such thing as biogeochemistry.

Im a BM wrote:
Most people don't realize that the dictionaries are WRONG about this one.

Im a BM wrote:
Most people don't realize that those so called scientific journals, such as the one with the title BIOGEOCHEMISTRY, are NOT truly scientific.

Im a BM wrote:
Most people don't even know what science IS.

duncan61 wrote:
Biogeochemistry is a relatively new scientific discipline that explores the physical, chemical, biological, and geological processes and reactions that govern the composition of and changes to the natural environment. In particular, biogeochemistry studies the cycles of crucial elements, such as carbon and nitrogen, and their interactions with other substances and organisms as they move through Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere (water and ice), biosphere (life), and lithosphere (rock). The field focuses especially on the diverse and interlinked chemical cycles that are either driven by or have an impact on biological activity, in particular carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus.

A prime example is carbon, the building block of life on Earth, and the planet-encompassing carbon cycle. Photosynthetic plants on land and sea take carbon dioxide (a form of inorganic carbon) from the atmosphere and convert it into the organic forms of carbon they need to live and grow. Animals that consume the plants incorporate the organic carbon into their own bodies.

Microbes eventually decompose dead plants and animals, and their carbon is recycled into soils and groundwater or swept into the oceans, where it becomes available to microbes and phytoplankton at the base of the marine food chain or it sinks and is buried in seafloor sediments. Over millions of years, carbon that is buried on land or at the bottom of the ocean becomes incorporated into rocks or hydrocarbons, where it might remain for tens to hundreds of millions of years. Ultimately, volcanoes return some of this carbon to the air as gas, where its heat-trapping properties affect Earth's climate, or else the rocks containing carbon are uplifted onto continents and gradually weathered, releasing their carbon back to the environment and making it available to organisms once again.

Why is it Important?
In a sense, chemicals are like currency, and biogeochemistry is the study of the nearly limitless "transactions" that drive the entire planetary system, including life on Earth. Understanding these fundamental processes provides crucial insights into how life formed, has evolved, is sustained, and is threatened on our planet, and how the various chemical cycles govern and regulate Earth's climate and environment.

Such knowledge enhances our ability to find ways to adapt to climate change and its impacts, enhance agriculture and food production, manage fisheries, mitigate pollution, develop alternative and renewable energy, prevent diseases and create new drugs, and spur innovations that can drive economic prosperity and improve our quality of life.

Straight copy and paste.Have at it

duncan61 wrote:
Biogeochemistry is a relatively new scientific discipline that explores the physical, chemical, biological, and geological processes and reactions that govern the composition of and changes to the natural environment. In particular, biogeochemistry studies the cycles of crucial elements, such as carbon and nitrogen, and their interactions with other substances and organisms as they move through Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere (water and ice), biosphere (life), and lithosphere (rock). The field focuses especially on the diverse and interlinked chemical cycles that are either driven by or have an impact on biological activity, in particular carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorus.

A prime example is carbon, the building block of life on Earth, and the planet-encompassing carbon cycle. Photosynthetic plants on land and sea take carbon dioxide (a form of inorganic carbon) from the atmosphere and convert it into the organic forms of carbon they need to live and grow. Animals that consume the plants incorporate the organic carbon into their own bodies.

Microbes eventually decompose dead plants and animals, and their carbon is recycled into soils and groundwater or swept into the oceans, where it becomes available to microbes and phytoplankton at the base of the marine food chain or it sinks and is buried in seafloor sediments. Over millions of years, carbon that is buried on land or at the bottom of the ocean becomes incorporated into rocks or hydrocarbons, where it might remain for tens to hundreds of millions of years. Ultimately, volcanoes return some of this carbon to the air as gas, where its heat-trapping properties affect Earth's climate, or else the rocks containing carbon are uplifted onto continents and gradually weathered, releasing their carbon back to the environment and making it available to organisms once again.

Why is it Important?
In a sense, chemicals are like currency, and biogeochemistry is the study of the nearly limitless "transactions" that drive the entire planetary system, including life on Earth. Understanding these fundamental processes provides crucial insights into how life formed, has evolved, is sustained, and is threatened on our planet, and how the various chemical cycles govern and regulate Earth's climate and environment.

Such knowledge enhances our ability to find ways to adapt to climate change and its impacts, enhance agriculture and food production, manage fisheries, mitigate pollution, develop alternative and renewable energy, prevent diseases and create new drugs, and spur innovations that can drive economic prosperity and improve our quality of life.

Straight copy and paste.Have at it

Im a BM wrote:
On April 9, 2022, duncan61 cut and pasted the information about biogeochemistry in the post below.

Im a BM wrote:
It is an excellent summary of the relatively new scientific discipline.

Im a BM wrote:
One of the things I like about it is that it points out the important distinction between organic carbon and inorganic carbon. Photosynthesis transforms carbon dioxide (inorganic carbon) into organic carbon.

Im a BM wrote:
Vocabulary quagmire - "Mineral" versus "inorganic" and organic minerals.

Im a BM wrote:
The term "mineral" is often used instead of "inorganic" in chemistry.

Im a BM wrote:
Sulfuric acid is a "mineral" acid,

Im a BM wrote:
where citric acid is an "organic" acid, composed of organic carbon.

Im a BM wrote:
Fluorapatite is a mineral made by vertebrates to make tooth enamel.

One definition of "organic", not the CHEMISTRY definition, is that it arises from living organisms. There are many "minerals" made by organisms, such as the aragonite (calcium carbonate) in shells of marine critters. Those minerals contain no organic carbon, and are not classified as organic.

Im a BM wrote:
So our teeth contain a "mineral" that our bodies synthesize organically. But it is inorganic as far as chemistry is concerned.

The Fischer Tropsch process synthetically transforms inorganic carbon into organic carbon.

Im a BM wrote:
That methane is synthesized inorganically (no organisms making it) but it is composed of organic carbon. 

Im a BM wrote:
This is only mentioned because it was two and a half years ago when duncan61 posted this. If the trolls were not scientifically illiterate, they could have learned two and a half years ago about organic carbon versus inorganic carbon.

Im a BM wrote:
The fact that biogeochemistry is an actual field of science is not difficult to grasp for people who are not scientifically illiterate.

sealover wrote:
A magic moment: January 20, 1988

Biogeochemistry is awesomely COOL!

sealover wrote:
Take one magic moment, for example.
...

sealover wrote:
Biogeochemistry is a relatively new field of science.

sealover wrote:
I was among the first generation of graduate students formally trained as "biogeochemists".

sealover wrote:
Applied biogeochemistry is at the heart of needed environmental remediation.
...