The pathway by which chemical elements and compounds move through biological, geological, and chemical processes in Earth's systems. These cycles include the movement of essential elements like carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and water through living and non-living components of ecosystems.
Compound word from Greek 'bios' (life), 'geo' (earth), and 'chemical' from Arabic 'al-kīmiyā' (alchemy), plus 'cycle' from Greek 'kyklos.' The term was coined in the 20th century as scientists recognized the interconnected nature of Earth's systems.
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