Biosphere means sphere of life.
The idea of biosphere was suggested by Austrian Geologist Edward Suess nearly a century ago. At that time it was not so important concept. Today, however, the biosphere has become the most important problem faced by man. The basic function of biosphere is that it supports life. It is esteemed that biosphere contains more than three hundred and fifty thousand species of plants and eleven million animal species including man. The biosphere supplies the essential requirements for all those species such as plants, animal and human beings namely light, heat, water, food and living space etc.
Biosphere Cycle :-
Maintenance of the biosphere is feasible through constant use of materials between the organic phenomenon (living) and abiotic (non-living) elements. These cycles are given below:-
(i) Hydrological Cycle :- The path of water through environment is hydrological cycle.
(ii) Carbon Cycle:- Carbon serves two purposes in the environment
1. It is structural component of organic molecules and
2. The energy holding chemicals bonds it forms for energy storage.
(iii) Nitrogen Cycle:- Organisms cannot exist without amino acids, peptides, nucleic acids and protein all of which are organic molecules containing nitrogen.
(iv) The Phosphorous Cycle:- Minerals become available to organisms after they are released from rocks. Phosphorous cycle is one of the mineral cycle begins when phosphorous compounds are leached from rocks and minerals over long period of time.
(v) The Sulphur Cycle:- Sulphur plays a vital role in organisms, especially as a minor but essential components of proteins. Sulphur compounds are important determinants of the acidity of rainfall, surface water and soil.
(vi) Oxygen Cycle:- Oxygen is the main source of respiratory gas for all terrestrial organisms.
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