Atmosphere (paper 2)

Question 1

5 main gases in very early atmosphere (4.6 billion years ago)

Answer 1

Carbon dioxide, water vapour, nitrogen, methane, ammonia

Question 2

True or false, for the last 200 million years, the proportions of gases in the atmosphere have mainly stayed the same

Answer 2

True
(With around 80% nitrogen and 20% oxygen and a tiny % of CO2, water vapour, noble gases and other gases)

Question 3

For roughly the last how many years have the proportions of gases in our atmosphere stayed the same

Answer 3

200 million years

Question 4

How many years ago was the Earth’s early atmosphere (first one)

Answer 4

4.6 billion years ago

Question 5

% composition of today’s atmosphere (has been the same for roughly the last 200 million years)

Answer 5

78% nitrogen
21% oxygen
0.9% argon
0.04% carbon dioxide
Trace amounts of other gases

Question 6

% of nitrogen in todays atmosphere

Answer 6

78%

Question 7

% of oxygen in today’s atmosphere

Answer 7

21%

Question 8

% of carbon dioxide in today’s atmosphere

Answer 8

0.04%

Question 9

% of argon in today’s atmosphere

Answer 9

0.9%

Question 10

Main gas in today’s atmosphere and what % is it

Answer 10

Nitrogen
78%

Question 11

The Earth’s very early atmosphere was formed by what activity

Answer 11

Volcanic activity

Question 12

3 key gases released by volcanoes (volcanic activity in early atmosphere 4.6 billion years ago)

Answer 12

Carbon dioxide
Water vapour
Nitrogen
(Methane and ammonia were also present)

Question 13

The Earth’s early atmosphere was very likely similar to the atmospheres of what 2 planets today

Answer 13

Venus and Mars

Question 14

True or false, the early atmosphere was very similar to today’s atmosphere of Venus and Mars

Answer 14

True

Question 15

How did oceans first form in the Earth

Answer 15

The large amount of water vapour in the early atmosphere condensed as the Earth cooled

Question 16

First reason why carbon dioxide levels reduced in early atmosphere

Answer 16

As the Earth cooled, the water vapour condensed to form oceans
CO2 could then dissolve in this

Question 17

When did algae start to appear

Answer 17

2.7 billion years ago

Question 18

What major thing started to appear 2.7 billion years ago

Answer 18

Algae

Question 19

What important process did algae and other green plants carry out when they first evolved 2.7 billion years ago

Answer 19

Photosynthesis- led to slow increase in oxygen and decreased CO2

Question 20

In the first billion years the gases that formed the earth’s atmosphere came mainly from which source

Answer 20

Volcanic activity

Question 21

What is the atmosphere

Answer 21

A layer of gases surrounding the Earth that’s held in place by gravity

Question 22

3 greenhouse gases

Answer 22

Water vapour
Carbon dioxide
Methane

Question 23

What is the greenhouse gas effect

Answer 23

Greenhouse gases allow short wavelength EM radiation (e.g UV light) to pass through the atmosphere from the sun to the Earth
Energy is absorbed by the Earth’s surface
Energy is then re-emitted at longer wavelengths e.g IR
Before it can get back to the sun some of the energy is absorbed by greenhouse gases in the Earths atmosphere
This traps the energy so increases the temperature

Question 24

Global warming definition

Answer 24

Increase in average temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere

Question 25

Why is it difficult to make predictions about the atmosphere

Answer 25

It is so big and complex

Question 26

What was formed when carbon dioxide dissolved into the oceans

Answer 26

Sedimentary rocks like limestone

Question 27

True or false, carbonates and sedimentary rock are the same thing

Answer 27

True
They were formed from CO2 dissolving in the oceans and reacting with the water

Question 28

After algae evolved, the oxygen allowed more plants to evolve.
What is the carbon in them locked up as when they die

Answer 28

Fossil fuels like coal

Question 29

Carbon footprint meaning

Answer 29

Amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a result of an individual’s activities

Question 30

Greenhouse gas simplified definition

Answer 30

Trapping of heat inside the Earth’s atmosphere due to increased levels of greenhouse gases

Question 31

1 advantage of greenhouse effect

Answer 31

Allows earth to be warm enough for life to occur

Question 32

4 pollutants released in combustion of fuels

Answer 32

Carbon monoxide
Sulfur dioxide
Oxides of nitrogen
Particulates e.g soot

Question 33

What 2 pollutants cause acid rain

Answer 33

Oxides of nitrogen
Sulfur dioxide

Question 34

What pollutant leads to global dimming

Answer 34

Particulates e.g soot

Question 35

What key event lead to an increase in % of oxygen in atmosphere

Answer 35

Algae evolving around 2.7 billion years a go

Question 36

How is Sulfur dioxide formed

Answer 36

Reacts with oxygen at high pressure and temperature
(Sulfur impurities are in fuels and oxygen is in the air)

Question 37

How are nitros oxides formed

Answer 37

Nitrogen and oxygen (both in air) react at high pressures and temperatures e.g from car engines

Question 38

Which 2 pollutants cause acid rain

Answer 38

Sulfur dioxide
Nitrous oxide

Question 39

How acid rain is formed

Answer 39

Sulfur dioxide/ nitrous oxides dissolve in clouds to form dilute Sulfur/ nitric acid which falls as acid rain

Question 40

2 effects of nitrous oxides/ Sulfur dioxide

Answer 40

Cause respiratory problems
Cause acid rain

Question 41

2 effects of particulates

Answer 41

Global dimming
Respiratory problems