Editing Biogeochemistry (section)

{{More citations needed|date=May 2023}}
{{Short description|Study of chemical cycles of the earth that are either driven by or influence biological activity}}
[[File:1934-V I Vernadsky.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|right| {{center|[[Vladimir Vernadsky]], founder of biogeochemistry}}]]

'''Biogeochemistry''' is the [[Branches of science|scientific discipline]] that involves the study of the [[chemistry|chemical]], [[physics|physical]], [[geology|geological]], and [[biology|biological]] processes and reactions that govern the composition of the natural environment (including the [[biosphere]], the [[cryosphere]], the [[hydrosphere]], the [[pedosphere]], the [[Earth's atmosphere|atmosphere]], and the [[lithosphere]]). In particular, biogeochemistry is the study of [[biogeochemical cycle]]s, the cycles of [[chemical element]]s such as [[carbon]] and [[nitrogen]], and their [[biological interaction|interactions]] with and incorporation into [[life|living things]] transported through earth scale [[biological system]]s in space and time. The field focuses on chemical cycles which are either driven by or influence biological activity. Particular emphasis is placed on the study of [[Carbon cycle|carbon]], [[Nitrogen cycle|nitrogen]], [[Oxygen cycle|oxygen]], [[Sulfur cycle|sulfur]], [[Iron cycle|iron]], and [[Phosphorus cycle|phosphorus]] cycles.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Schlesinger |first=William H. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1183905251 |title=Biogeochemistry : an analysis of global change |date=2020 |others=Emily S. Bernhardt |isbn=978-0-12-814609-5 |edition=4th |location=London |oclc=1183905251}}</ref> Biogeochemistry is a [[Systems thinking|systems science]] closely related to [[systems ecology]].