biospheric

Biospheric is an adjective relating to the biosphere, the global sum of all ecosystems and the living components of Earth. In ecology and Earth system science, biospheric processes are those in which living organisms actively influence the environment or are controlled by it, at scales ranging from local to planetary. The biosphere encompasses organisms and the ecosystems they compose, as well as the interactions among them and with air, water, and rock.

Key biospheric processes include photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, nutrient cycling, and symbiotic relationships. Through these processes, organisms drive biogeochemical cycles—most notably the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles—and contribute to energy flow that sustains ecosystems. The biosphere thus plays a central role in regulating planetary conditions, including climate and soil formation.

Interactions with other Earth systems are a core aspect of the concept. The biosphere exchanges gases with the atmosphere (for example, CO2 and methane), exchanges water and nutrients with the hydrosphere, and influences weathering and soil development in the lithosphere. In practice, the term is used to distinguish living-system–driven components from purely atmospheric, oceanic, or geological processes. Biospheric research underpins studies of climate change, land-use change, and biodiversity loss, particularly in understanding carbon sinks and sources.

Methods used in biospheric research include field measurements of carbon fluxes, remote sensing of productivity, and modeling of biospheric processes within Earth system models. The concept aligns with approaches in Earth system science and, in some interpretations, the Gaia perspective that life regulates global conditions.