Oxygen circulates through multiple bands, systems, layers or strata of the Earth, encompassing the atmosphere, the biosphere and the hydrosphere, for example.
Oxygen cycle is the name given to a complex biogeochemical process through which it is guaranteed that oxygen moves in order to circulate in and out of the Earth's surface.
As can be seen when analyzing how oxygen (a chemical element also present in the water cycle - or hydrological - and in the carbon cycle ) is transformed, there are multiple phenomena that are linked to the aforementioned chain of procedures that are analyzed from the science with the intention of continuing to add knowledge and gather information that allows us to infer, for example, how the evolution or future of species on our planet will continue.
Throughout this article we will offer interesting data about the phases, value and particularities of the oxygen cycle with the intention of helping to understand what it consists of, what it encompasses and why this circuit is so necessary.
Characteristics of the oxygen cycle
Before listing the characteristics of the oxygen cycle, it is constructive to highlight that oxygen is essential for each organism to carry out functions essential to living.
This element appears, for example, in water (H2O) , a key substance for the subsistence of plants and animals. Its formula is H2O since each molecule of it is made up of two parts that correspond to hydrogen and one part of oxygen . Nor can it be overlooked that it is even present in carbon dioxide (CO2) , a greenhouse gas that is formed when a carbon atom combines with a pair of oxygen atoms. In the atmosphere , to add another reference, there is, naturally, an emergence of ozone (O3) , a gas identified as an allotropic form of oxygen . Atmospheric ozone agglutinates in the so-called ozone layer , which serves as a protective barrier thanks to its ability to prevent a considerable portion of solar radiation from harming the inhabitants of this planet: for this reason we must pay attention to any damage or decrease. in this layer since this translates into more ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth's surface, a reality that has a negative impact on health because the immune system is weakened and there is a greater chance of getting sick or changes in the genetic information of each individual.
Thanks to the so-called oxygen cycle , it can go from living beings to their respective environments and vice versa. In this context in which numerous geological, physical, chemical and biological processes influence and intervene, an extensive circulation of oxygen is achieved that encompasses every corner of the Earth .
A pair of hydrogen atoms together with an oxygen atom make up water, a substance essential for the existence and preservation of life.
Stages
When studying the oxygen cycle , two stages are identified, say experts on the subject.
One of them is fast and occurs thanks to biological processes . Phytoplankton , for example, are responsible for absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen thanks to photosynthesis , a metabolic root process that occurs in plants and trees with chlorophyll .
Oxygen also plays a central role in cellular respiration . In this framework, aerobic respiration is distinguished (a mode in which a reaction of glucose against oxygen is observed, thus generating energy ) and anaerobic respiration (specifically in a scenario that does not contemplate the presence of oxygen ).
The slow stage , on the other hand, is connected with geological and chemical phenomena or processes. This set includes decomposition , oxidation and, in relation to water , evaporation , runoff and precipitation , among other possibilities.
When breathing, human beings take in oxygen and eliminate carbon dioxide, thanks to the proper functioning of our respiratory system.
Importance of the oxygen cycle
The oxygen cycle is of vital importance for every living being that inhabits the Earth .
We must not lose sight of the fact that molecular oxygen (O2) is one of the most abundant gases in the atmosphere (the first is nitrogen ). For humans and other species to survive while maintaining good metabolic functioning, it is key that cells become oxygenated and can, therefore, generate energy .
For both the production of oxygen and the quality of the air we breathe to be optimal, it is imperative to commit individually and collectively to the care of the natural environment . Strengthening environmental education and implementing appropriate environmental policies to promote sustainability or environmental sustainability are part of the action plan that is required on a universal scale. It is necessary to work on the conservation of ecosystems , avoid pollution (especially in the oceans ) and not forget or minimize the importance of protecting forests and reforesting .
Because oxygen is essential for breathing and is a component of water , a substance that is an ally of life and subsistence (it is worth remembering that water helps keep our body temperature regulated and helps eliminate toxins , for example). example), it is evident that the oxygen cycle is extremely beneficial.