Atmosphere Quizzes

Question 1

What do scientists look to for how the early atmosphere was?

Answer 1

planets and moons that have no life

Volcanoes

Antarctic ice cores (trapped gases)

Question 2

What gases do volcanoes release?

Answer 2

Carbon dioxide, water vapour

Little Methane, nitrogen and ammonia

Question 3

What was early atmosphere made up of?

Answer 3

Little to no Oxygen
Large amount of Carbon dioxide
Water vapour + small amounts of other gases

Question 4

How were oceans formed

Answer 4

Water vapour released from volcanoes condensed

as earth cooled down

Question 5

Why is it difficult to be certain about the early atmosphere?

Answer 5

There is only limited evidence

conflicting evidence like Titan=98% nitrogen and mars and venus mainly carbon dioxide

Question 6

How was the early CO2 reduced

Answer 6

Dissolved into oceans

Got locked up in marine organisms, buried under layers of sediment, in carbonate rocks

Plants used it for photosynthesis

Question 7

Current nitrogen percentage

Answer 7

78

Question 8

Current oxygen percentage

Answer 8

21

Question 9

Current argon percentage

Answer 9

0.9

Question 10

Current carbon dioxide percentage

Answer 10

0.04

Question 11

Name the current atmosphere’s gases

Answer 11

Nitrogen
Oxygen
Argon
Carbon dioxide

Question 12

How did oxygen affect the early atmosphere

Answer 12

Killed off unadapted, allowed others to survive

Formed ozone layer (O3), blocks harmful rays and allowed life to evolve

Reduced the carbon dioxide amount

Question 13

Name the ways the atmosphere is being changed now

Answer 13

Human activity
+ CO2 Fossil fuels
+ CO2 Deforestation
+ CH4 Livestock farming

Volcanic activity
+ Sulfur dioxide (+ light+ H2O+ O2 = smog)
+ Carbon dioxide