Biogeodynamics: Bridging the gap between surface and deep Earth processes

33Citations
Citations of this article
78Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

This article is free to access.

Abstract

Life is sustained by a critical and not insubstantial set of elements, nearly all of which are contained within large rock reservoirs and cycled between Earth's surface and the mantle via subduction zone plate tectonics. Over geologic time scales, plate tectonics plays a critical role in recycling subducted bioactive elements lost to the mantle back to the ocean-biosphere system, via outgassing and volcanism. Biology additionally relies on tectonic processes to supply rock-bound 'nutrients' to marine and terrestrial ecosystems via uplift and erosion. Thus, the development of modern-style plate tectonics and the generation of stable continents were key events in the evolution of the biosphere on Earth, and similar tectonic processes could be crucial for the development of habitability on exoplanets. Despite this vital 'biogeodynamic' connection, directly testing hypotheses about feedbacks between the deep Earth and the biosphere remains challenging. Here, I discuss potential avenues to bridge the biosphere-geosphere gap, focusing specifically on the global cycling and bioavailability of major nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) over geologic time scales.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Zerkle, A. L. (2018). Biogeodynamics: Bridging the gap between surface and deep Earth processes. In Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences (Vol. 376). Royal Society Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2017.0401

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free