There are many systems in Earth. It is also believed that there are closed systems. A closed system is a system with no inputs or outputs. However, the reason it is a theory is because there are no closed systems that we know of. However, the systems we will discuss include the hydrologic cycle, the carbon cycle, and the nitrogen cycle. First, the hydrologic cycle.
The hydrologic is your classic water cycle. The hydrologic cycle is the storage and transfer or movement of water. 97% of Earth's water is salt water. The other 3% is extremely important because it is fresh water, the water that we use. The second cycle we will discuss is the carbon cycle.
The carbon cycle is extremely important to all living things. All living things are carbon-based life forms and need the carbon cycle to live. Without the carbon cycle, we would not be able to survive. There are so many ways that carbon can cycle through which you can see by the diagram above. However, the carbon cycle can also involve the greenhouse effect. Now, the greenhouse effect is the natural occurrence of gasses being trapped in the atmosphere. This causes the Earth to heat up and not freeze. However, because of human activity involving greenhouse gasses, ultimately disrupt ecosystems. The next section we will discuss is the nitrogen cycle.
The nitrogen cycle includes many gases, including nitrogen. Nitrogen makes up 79% of the air we breathe. Nitrogen is essential to life. However, in order to make nitrogen into something we can use, it must go through the nitrogen cycle. The nitrogen cycle is diagrammed above. One of the ways that nitrogen can be transformed is by nitrogen fixation. It is the chemical process that nitrogen in an atmospheric form is taken in by plants or organic compounds.
Glossary
Hydrologic Cycle - the natural sequence through which water passes into the atmosphere as water vapor, precipitates to earth in liquid or solid form, and ultimately returns to the atmosphere through evaporation
Carbon Cycle - the circulation of carbon atoms in the biosphere as a result of photosynthetic conversion of carbon dioxide into complex organic compounds by plants, which are consumed by other organisms: the carbon returns to the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide as a result of respiration, decay by fungi, bacteria, etc., and combustion of fossil fuels
Nitrogen Cycle - the continuous sequence of events by which atmospheric nitrogen and nitrogenous compounds in the soil are converted, as by nitrification and nitrogen fixation, into substances that can be utilized by green plants, the substances returning to the air and soil as a result of the decay of the plants and denitrification.
Nitrogen Fixation - any process of combining atmospheric nitrogen with other elements, either by chemical means or by bacterial action: used chiefly in the preparation of fertilizers, industrial products, etc.
Hydrologic Cycle - the natural sequence through which water passes into the atmosphere as water vapor, precipitates to earth in liquid or solid form, and ultimately returns to the atmosphere through evaporation
Carbon Cycle - the circulation of carbon atoms in the biosphere as a result of photosynthetic conversion of carbon dioxide into complex organic compounds by plants, which are consumed by other organisms: the carbon returns to the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide as a result of respiration, decay by fungi, bacteria, etc., and combustion of fossil fuels
Nitrogen Cycle - the continuous sequence of events by which atmospheric nitrogen and nitrogenous compounds in the soil are converted, as by nitrification and nitrogen fixation, into substances that can be utilized by green plants, the substances returning to the air and soil as a result of the decay of the plants and denitrification.
Nitrogen Fixation - any process of combining atmospheric nitrogen with other elements, either by chemical means or by bacterial action: used chiefly in the preparation of fertilizers, industrial products, etc.