C11 Flashcards
What was the Surface of the early Earth like?
Most of the surface was covered by volcanoes
What is the surface of the earth today covered by?
Most is covered by oceans
Early earth atmosphere:
Carbon dioxide and water vapour
Earth todays’ atmosphere:
Nitrogen and oxygen
Why is it difficult to gather evidence about the early atmosphere?
It happened 4.6 billion years ago
Impact of cooling:
Will sllow for molten materials to slowly solidify, forming land masses
What is a theory about how early atmosphere formed?
Said that volcanoes released gases from the earth’s interior through violent eruptions
What did the violent eruptions release?
Large amounts of carbon dioxide, water vapour, nitrogen, hydrogen + small proportions of ammonia and methane
What did earth’s gravity prevent?
gases from escaping into outer space and they formed the early atmosphere
What happened to water vapour while the surface of the earth was hot?
It remained in gaseous state
What happened to water vapour when earth’s conditions cooled?
It condensed and fell to the surface of earth, forming oceans
What is carbon dioxide?
It is a water soluble gas and dissolves readily
What happens when water vapour is condensed?
Large amounts of CO2 dissolve in oceans
What do carbonate substances form
They are precipitated and formed sediments on the seabed
