c 13-14 Atmosphere+ finite resources Flashcards
what was the early atmosphere made of
mostly carbon dioxide
how was nitrogen built up in atmosphere
volcanic activity
how was co2 removed
dissolved in oceans, forming sediments on the seabed
evolution of green plants and algae
evolved absorbed some CO2 so that they could carry out photosynhtesis
what was transferred to shells and skeltons
carbon
how were sedimentary carbon rocks formed
skeletons and shells built up the seabed, were covered by sediments
this process created fossil fuel
actual percentage of gases in atmo
80% nitrogen
20% oxygen
algae produced….. by photosynthesis
oxygen
what did the increase percentage of oxygen in atmosphere allow
more complex life could evolve
greenhouse gases examples
carbon dioxide
methane
water vapour
what do greenhouses gases do
absorb long wavelength radiation that gets reflected back off the Earth from Sun.
so they re-radiate the Earth with tis thermal radiation, resulting in warmer temperatures
what forms of human activity affect amount of greenhouse gases in atmo
deforestation
burning fossil fuels
agriculture
creating waste
what is causing climate change
carbon dioxide from human acticity
effects of climate change
rising sea levels
increasingly common extreme weather events
changes in temperature
impacts on food-producing
changes to distribution of wildlife species
solution to t=stop climate change
reducing carbon footprint
reduce use of fossil fuels
reducing carbon capture and storage
what is carbon footprint
measure of amount of carbon dioxide and other gases emitted over the full-life cycle of something
how to reduce carbon footprints
renewable energy sources or nuclear energy
cut waste, using more efficient processes
tax companies on amount of co2 they release
what do all fossil fuel contain bad for environment because it causes acid rain
sulfur, reacts with O when burnt forming sulfur dioxide (bad)
how to solve sulfur’s problem
sulfur impurities can be removed from fossil fuels before they’re burnt
how is fuel bad
burnt in engine
what happen if there is incomplete combustion in engine
CO formed, is dangerous can stop your blood from doing its proper job of carrying oxygen around the body
hard to detect, colorless no smell
what do high temperatures in engines allow
unreactive nitrogen in the air reacts with O making nitrogen oxides (toxic, can trigger asthma , acid rain)
what happen to hydrocarbons in fossil fuels in combustion
carbon and oxides are oxidised and CO2 and water vapour are released into atmposphere
finite resources are being used up at a faster rate than
they can be replaced, will eventually run out
what is renewable
can be replaced as we use them
sustainability
developments that meet needs of society now, without ruining the ability of future generations to meet their needs
what are natural resources
form without human input
why does rainwater need to be treated
contain low levels of dissolved subastances
how is water made fit to drink
passing through filter beds to remove solids and by passing ultra-violet light trough it to reduce microbes
how can water be made pure
distillation is expensive and requires large amounts of energy
what is desalisation
converting salty water into potable and usable
what is reverse osmosis
uses membranes to separate dissolved salts from salty water, energy needed to pressurise the water passing through
what needs to be done with sewage
treated at a sewages treatment plants to make it safe
sewage treatment (process)
- screening =removing large solids and grit from waste water through a metal grid
- primary treatment= in first tank large paddles rotate pushing solids (sludge, sediment) towards the centre where is then piped to a storage tank. water liquid flows into next tank
- secondary treatment= second tank effluent is treated by biological aerobic digestion, air is pumped through the water so that aerobic bacteria breaks down any organic matter
uses less energy than desalination
