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The Sulfur Cycle
5
The Sulfur Cycle
Atmosphere
Producers
Sulfur is a hard, yellow, and odorless element. It makes up many vitamins and proteins that are very important to the health of ecosystems.
Sulfates in the atmosphere react with ammonium to form sulfate salts, some of which fall to the earth in the form of acid rain. The primary component of acid rain is sulfuric acid, H2SO4.
Sulfate is taken to plants and microorganisms and is converted into an organic form of nutrients.
- The largest reservoir of sulfur is in rocks.
- It is also found in the ocean and others bodies of freshwater.
- The atmosphere contains sulfur as sulfur oxide and methane.
When SO3 and water in the atmosphere combine, SO3 is rapidly converted into sulfuric acid (H2SO4).
Direct Emissions
Consumers
Sulfur is emitted directly into the atmosphere in the form of sulfur dioxide or sulfate by:
- Volcanic eruptions
- The breakdown of swamps
- The evaporation of water
- The burning of fossil fuels
Rocks and Soil
Human Impact on the Sulfur Cycle
Consumers take in the nutrients from the plants, and move the sulfate through the food chain.
Burning coal is the main way humans intervene in the sulfur cycle. One third of the sulfur in the atmosphere comes from humans.
The sulfur settles back to Earth from the atmosphere, some falling into streams and lakes
Some of the sulfur is released back into the atmosphere from sea spray. The rest of the sulfur combines with iron in the sea depths to form ferrous sulfide.
The weathering of rocks in the soil releases sulfur into the air. When sulfur dioxide enters the atmosphere, it reacts with oxygen to produce sulfur trioxide gas (SO3).
Decomposition
The sulfur runs into the ocean, where it is cycled between marine communities
When consumers die and decompose, the sulfate is released into the soil and the tissue of microorganisms.