The biogeochemical cycles of phosphorus: A review of local and global consequences of the atmospheric input

P‐input from the atmosphere is, in many oligotrophic ecosystems, substantial for the biomass production; in some regions biomass formation may depend fully or partially on the phosphorus input from the atmosphere. As a consequence, phosphorus must be considered as an element participating in cycles involving the atmosphere, like sulfur and nitrogen. Dust and aerosols containing phosphorus are transported worldwide, linking even distant regions. Human activities enhance the amounts of P distributed. Since the concentrations of P in the atmospheric dry and wet input are usually very low, special care in sampling and analysis is a prerequisite to obtain reproducible data. Some values in the literature may be questionable.