Oxygen Cycle - Capacities and Fluxes

Capacities and Fluxes

The following tables offer estimates of oxygen cycle reservoir capacities and fluxes. These numbers are based primarily on estimates from (Walker, J.C.G.):


Table 1: Major reservoirs involved in the oxygen cycle

Reservoir Capacity
(kg O2)
Flux In/Out
(kg O2 per year)
Residence Time
(years)
Atmosphere 1.4 * 1018 30,000 * 1010 4,500
Biosphere 1.6 * 1016 30,000 * 1010 50
Lithosphere 2.9 * 1020 60 * 1010 500,000,000


Table 2: Annual gain and loss of atmospheric oxygen (Units of 1010 kg O2 per year)

Photosynthesis (land)
Photosynthesis (ocean)
Photolysis of N2O
Photolysis of H2O
16,500
13,500
1.3
0.03
Total Gains ~ 30,000
Losses - Respiration and Decay
Aerobic Respiration
Microbial Oxidation
Combustion of Fossil Fuel (anthropogenic)
Photochemical Oxidation
Fixation of N2 by Lightning
Fixation of N2 by Industry (anthropogenic)
Oxidation of Volcanic Gases
23,000
5,100
1,200
600
12
10
5
Losses - Weathering
Chemical Weathering
Surface Reaction of O3
50
12
Total Losses ~ 30,000

Read more about this topic:  Oxygen Cycle

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