Sulfur Cycle
Definition
The sulfur cycle is the biogeochemical cycle that describes the movement of sulfur through the Earth's atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. It involves various processes such as volcanic emissions, weathering of rocks, and microbial activity.
Analogy
Imagine the sulfur cycle as a giant recycling system for sulfur. Just like how you recycle cans and bottles to be used again, sulfur goes through different stages where it gets released into the atmosphere by volcanoes or extracted from rocks by weathering, then utilized by living organisms before being returned back to the environment.
Related terms
Acid Rain: Rainfall with high levels of sulfuric acid due to human activities like burning fossil fuels.
Sulfur Dioxide: A gas produced from burning fossil fuels that contributes to air pollution and acid rain.
Sulfate Minerals: Compounds containing sulfur that are found in rocks and play a role in releasing sulfur into the environment during weathering processes.
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