Question

Q4.22. A researcher is studying the global biogeochemical cycling of a particular nutrient, and she has determined that its storage rate in the oceanic subsystem is -10 Pgy. What can she conclude based on this observation? Use the dropdowns below to complete your answer. The oceanic nutrient pool size is , and because Earth's global biogeochemical cycles are , the size of this nutrient's pools in one or more of Earth's other subsystems (besides the ocean) must also be changing. Reset

Answer 1

The researcher can conclude that the oceanic nutrient pool size is decreasing based on the negative storage rate value. Additionally, the size of the nutrient's pools in other Earth subsystems is also changing due to the interconnected nature of biogeochemical cycles.

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on the observation that the storage rate of the nutrient in the oceanic subsystem is -10 Pgy, the researcher can conclude that the size of the oceanic nutrient pool is decreasing. This negative value suggests that the nutrient is being removed or consumed from the oceanic subsystem at a higher rate than it is being replenished or absorbed.

The interconnected nature of biogeochemical cycles indicates that if the nutrient pool size is changing in the ocean, then the size of the nutrient's pools in one or more of Earth's other subsystems must also be changing. These changes may include increases or decreases in pool sizes depending on the specific nutrient and the processes involved in its cycling.

Answer 2

Based on the observation of a -10 Pgy storage rate, the researcher can conclude that the oceanic nutrient pool size is decreasing and that a change must be occurring in other Earth's subsystems due to the interconnected nature of biogeochemical cycles.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a researcher has determined that the storage rate of a particular nutrient in the oceanic subsystem is -10 Pgy (petagrams per year), she can conclude that the oceanic nutrient pool size is decreasing. This negative storage rate indicates that the nutrient is being removed from the oceanic reservoir faster than it is being replenished. Additionally, because Earth's global biogeochemical cycles are interconnected, this implies that the size of this nutrient's pools in one or more of Earth's other subsystems (besides the ocean) must also be changing. If a nutrient is depleting in one reservoir, it must be accumulating in another, or it might be involved in a faster cycling between components of the biosphere.

Due to the interconnected nature of biogeochemical cycles, nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur amongst others, flow through oceans, atmosphere, terrestrial environments, and biological organisms, continually cycling between these pools. The alteration in one part of the cycle will invariably impact other parts. Hence, understanding these cycles and how human activities have impacted them is crucial for maintaining the balance of ecosystems and preventing potential consequences for Earth.