Earth System Cycles
The cycling of energy, water, and certain chemical elements ties the system together
Energy from the Sun enters the top
of the atmosphere; some is reflected
back to space while the rest powers
the Earth system
Water evaporates from the surface,
condenses or freezes, falls back to the
surface, runs-off or sinks into the soil,
flows to aquifers, rivers, the oceans
The chemical elements C, N, P, and
S cycle among living organisms, the
atmosphere, sediments, soils, and
water bodies