Importance

Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plants and animals. Phosphorus is a limiting

nutrient for aquatic organisms. Phosphorus forms parts of important life-sustaining
molecules that are very common in the biosphere. Phosphorus does not enter the
atmosphere, remaining mostly on land and in rock and soil minerals.

The phosphorus cycle

Phosphorus is a chemical element found on Earth in nusmerous compound forms, such as
the phosphate ion (PO43-), located in water, soil and sediments.  The quantities of
phosphorus in soil are generally small, and this often limits plant growth. That is why people
often apply phosphate fertilisers on farmland. Animals absorb phosphates by eating plants
or plant-eating animals.

Water cycle
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Diagram of the Water Cycle

The water cycle

Earth's water cycle

As the Earth's surface water evaporates, wind moves water in the air from the sea to the land, increasing the
amount of freshwater on land.

Water vapor is converted to clouds that bring fresh water to land in the form of rain snow and sleet

Precipitation falls on the ground, but what happens to that water depends greatly on the geography of the land
at any particular place.

The water cycle, also known as the hydrological cycle or the H2O cycle, describes the continuous
movement of water on, above and below the surface of the Earth. The mass of water on Earth
remains fairly constant over time but the partitioning of the water into the major reservoirs of
ice, fresh water, saline water and atmospheric water is variable depending on a wide range
of climatic variables. The water moves from one reservoir to another, such as from river to ocean, or
from the ocean to the atmosphere, by the physical processes
of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, infiltration, surface runoff, and subsurface flow. In doing
so, the water goes through different phases: liquid, solid (ice) and vapor.
The water cycle involves the exchange of energy, which leads to temperature changes. For
instance, when water evaporates, it takes up energy from its surroundings and cools the
environment. When it condenses, it releases energy and warms the environment. These heat
exchanges influence climate.
The evaporative phase of the cycle purifies water which then replenishes the land with freshwater.
The flow of liquid water and ice transports minerals across the globe. It is also involved in reshaping
the geological features of the Earth, through processes including erosion and sedimentation. The
water cycle is also essential for the maintenance of most life and ecosystems on the planet.

Processes[edit]

Many different processes lead to movements and phase changes in water

Precipitation
Condensed water vapor that falls to the Earth's surface. Most precipitation occurs as rain,
but also includes snow, hail, fog drip,graupel, and sleet.[1] Approximately
505,000 km3 (121,000 cu mi) of water falls as precipitation each year,
398,000 km3 (95,000 cu mi) of it over the oceans.[2] The rain on land contains
107,000 km3 (26,000 cu mi) of water per year and a snowing only 1,000 km3(240 cu mi).
[3]
 78% of global precipitation occurs over the ocean. [4]
Canopy interception
The precipitation that is intercepted by plant foliage eventually evaporates back to the
atmosphere rather than falling to the ground.
Snowmelt
The runoff produced by melting snow.
Runoff
The variety of ways by which water moves across the land. This includes both surface runoff
and channel runoff. As it flows, the water may seep into the ground, evaporate into the air,
become stored in lakes or reservoirs, or be extracted for agricultural or other human uses.
Infiltration
The flow of water from the ground surface into the ground. Once infiltrated, the water
becomes soil moisture or groundwater.[5] A recent global study using water stable isotopes,
however, shows that not all soil moisture is equally available for groundwater recharge or for
plant transpiration.[6]
Subsurface flow
The flow of water underground, in the vadose zone and aquifers. Subsurface water may
return to the surface (e.g. as a spring or by being pumped) or eventually seep into the
oceans. Water returns to the land surface at lower elevation than where it infiltrated, under
the force of gravity or gravity induced pressures. Groundwater tends to move slowly and is
replenished slowly, so it can remain in aquifers for thousands of years.
Evaporation
The transformation of water from liquid to gas phases as it moves from the ground or bodies
of water into the overlying atmosphere.[7] The source of energy for evaporation is
primarily solar radiation. Evaporation often implicitly includes transpiration from plants,
though together they are specifically referred to as evapotranspiration. Total annual
evapotranspiration amounts to approximately 505,000 km3 (121,000 cu mi) of water,
434,000 km3 (104,000 cu mi) of which evaporates from the oceans.[2] 86% of global
evaporation occurs over the ocean. [4]
Sublimation
The state change directly from solid water (snow or ice) to water vapor. [8]
Deposition
This refers to changing of water vapor directly to ice.
Advection
The movement of water — in solid, liquid, or vapor states — through the atmosphere.
Without advection, water that evaporated over the oceans could not precipitate over land. [9]
Condensation
The transformation of water vapor to liquid water droplets in the air, creating clouds and fog.
[10]

Transpiration
The release of water vapor from plants and soil into the air. Water vapor is a gas that cannot
be seen.
Percolation
Water flows vertically through the soil and rocks under the influence of gravity
Plate tectonics
Water enters the mantle via subduction of oceanic crust. Water returns to the surface via
volcanism.
Water cycle thus involves many of the
intermediate processes.
Human activities that alter the water cycle include:

 agriculture
 industry
 alteration of the chemical composition of the atmosphere
 construction of dams
 deforestation and afforestation
 removal of groundwater from wells
 water abstraction from rivers
 urbanization

Effects on climate[edit]
The water cycle is powered from solar energy. 86% of the global evaporation occurs from the
oceans, reducing their temperature by evaporative cooling.[20] Without the cooling, the effect of
evaporation on the greenhouse effect would lead to a much higher surface temperature of 67 °C
(153 °F), and a warmer planet.[citation needed]
Aquifer drawdown or overd