Earth's 4 Major Cycles

Water cycle

• HUGE Cycle
• Very Slow
• Global Cycle (large-scale)
• Has Local AND Global Inputs

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Carbon Cycle

• Humans have had an increasing impact
• Fossil Fuels are a MAJOR contributor
• Many of Humanity's fuel sources are contributors
• Majorly unbalanced because of Humans
• Oceans play Crucial Role

Phosphorus Cycle

• Very important in Florida
• Very much a LOCAL system
• Major Part of Red Tides

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Nitrogen cycle

• Super-important for Agriculture
• Poop is important
• In the Air, Land, and Sea
• Bacteria are Crucial

Open or Closed System?

• Open System = Exchange Matter AND Energy with Surroundings
• Closed System =  Exchange Energy ONLY

1st Law of Thermodynamics