Phosphorus Cycle
Definition
The phosphorus cycle involves the movement of phosphorus through rocks, water bodies, soil, and living organisms.
Analogy
Picture the phosphorus cycle as a relay race baton. Phosphorus passes from rocks to plants to animals and eventually returns back to rocks again in an ongoing loop.
Related terms
Weathering: The breakdown of rocks over time due to physical or chemical processes that release phosphorus into soil or water.
Eutrophication: The excessive growth of algae and plants in bodies of water due to high levels of phosphorus, often caused by human activities.
Phosphorus mining: The extraction of phosphorus from rocks or sediment for use in fertilizers and other products.
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