earth-sciences

Biogeochemistry & Nutrient Cycles

The cycling of elements through Earth's systems — carbon sequestration and emissions, nitrogen fixation and denitrification, phosphorus weathering, sulfur redox transformations, and the ocean biological carbon pump.

biogeochemistrycarbon cyclenitrogen cyclephosphorus cyclesulfur cycleocean carbon pumpnutrient cycling

Biogeochemistry studies how chemical elements cycle through the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. These nutrient cycles — carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur — regulate climate, sustain ecosystems, and constrain biological productivity. Human activities have dramatically altered every major cycle, with consequences from ocean acidification to eutrophication.

These simulations let you model carbon fluxes between atmosphere and ocean, trace nitrogen through fixation and denitrification, follow phosphorus from rock weathering to sediment burial, explore sulfur redox chemistry, and visualize the ocean biological carbon pump — all with real-time interactive controls and Earth-system-scale models.

5 interactive simulations

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Global Carbon Cycle Model

Model Earth's carbon cycle — explore how fossil fuel emissions, photosynthesis, ocean absorption, and volcanism control atmospheric CO₂ and climate over decades to millennia

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Nitrogen Cycle & Fixation Model

Model the nitrogen cycle — explore biological fixation, nitrification, denitrification, and anthropogenic inputs that drive eutrophication and N₂O emissions

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Ocean Biological Carbon Pump

Model the ocean biological carbon pump — explore how phytoplankton productivity, sinking particle flux, and deep ocean circulation sequester carbon from the atmosphere

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Phosphorus Cycle & Weathering

Model the phosphorus cycle — explore weathering inputs, biological uptake, sedimentation, and anthropogenic mining that control phosphorus availability and eutrophication

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Sulfur Cycle & Redox Chemistry

Model the sulfur cycle — explore volcanic emissions, biological reduction, acid rain formation, and ocean sulfate dynamics across oxidation states from S²⁻ to SO₄²⁻