kiertous

Kiertous is a Finnish term that translates to "circulation" or "cycle" in English. It is a broad concept used in various fields to describe a repeating process or flow.

In ecology, kiertous refers to the biogeochemical cycles of elements like carbon, nitrogen, and water. These cycles involve the continuous movement of substances through the environment, involving living organisms, the atmosphere, land, and water. For example, the water kiertous describes the evaporation, condensation, and precipitation of water.

The term is also applied in economics, particularly in discussions of the circular economy. A circular economy aims to keep resources in use for as long as possible, extracting the maximum value from them whilst in use, then recovering and regenerating products and materials at the end of each service life. This contrasts with a traditional linear economy, which follows a "take-make-dispose" model.

In a more general sense, kiertous can describe any repetitive pattern or journey. This might include the circulation of money in an economy, the movement of people in a city, or even the cyclical nature of historical events. Understanding the principle of kiertous helps in analyzing and managing systems that involve continuous flow and renewal.