Oxygen circulates through multiple bands, systems, layers or strata of the Earth, including the atmosphere, the biosphere and the hydrosphere, for example.
The oxygen cycle is the name given to a complex biogeochemical process through which oxygen is ensured to move in order to circulate inside and outside the Earth's surface.
As can be seen when analysing how oxygen is transformed (a chemical element also present in the water cycle - or hydrological cycle - and in the carbon cycle ), there are multiple phenomena linked to the aforementioned chain of procedures that are analysed by 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 information about the phases, value and particularities of the oxygen cycle with the intention of helping to understand what it consists of, what it covers and why this circuit is so necessary.
Features 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 life.
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 corresponding to hydrogen and one part of oxygen . It cannot be overlooked that it is also 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, a rise of ozone (O3) , a gas indicated as an allotropic form of oxygen . Atmospheric ozone accumulates 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, attention must be paid 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 are more chances of getting sick or of changes in the genetic information of each individual.
Thanks to the so-called oxygen cycle , oxygen can travel 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, is responsible for absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen thanks to photosynthesis , a metabolic root process that occurs in plants and trees with chlorophyll .
In cellular respiration , oxygen also plays a central role. Within this framework, a distinction is made between aerobic respiration (a modality in which glucose reacts with oxygen, thus producing energy ) and anaerobic respiration (which takes place in a setting in which oxygen is not present).
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 we breathe, we 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 .
It should not be forgotten that molecular oxygen (O2) is one of the most abundant gases in the atmosphere (the first being nitrogen ). In order for humans and other species to survive while maintaining good metabolic function, it is essential that cells are oxygenated and can therefore generate energy .
In order to ensure that both oxygen production and the quality of the air we breathe are optimal, it is imperative to commit ourselves individually and collectively to caring for the natural environment . Strengthening environmental education and implementing appropriate environmental policies to promote environmental sustainability are part of the action plan required on a universal scale. It is necessary to work on conserving ecosystems , avoiding pollution (especially in the oceans ) and not forgetting or minimizing the importance of protecting forests and reforestation .
Because oxygen is essential for breathing and is a component of water , a substance that is an ally of life and subsistence (it should be remembered that water helps regulate our body temperature and helps eliminate toxins , for example), it is clear that the oxygen cycle is extremely beneficial.