c13 Flashcards
what gases make up the earth’s atmosphere?
80% nitrogen, 20% oxygen, small proportion of other gases like carbon dioxide, water vapour and noble gases
what was the early earth’s atmosphere like?
it contained water vapour and carbon dioxide
how did oxygen enter the atmosphere of earth?
through plants and algae photosynthesising
how did carbon dioxide decrease in the atmosphere
as algae and plants increased, this decreased the percentage of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by photosynthesis.
carbon dioxide also decreased by the formation of sedimentary rocks and fossil fuels that contain carbon.
photosynthesis equation
carbon dioxide + water -> glucose + oxygen
what are the green house gases?
water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane
what do greenhouse gases do ?
they maintain temperatures on earth high enough to support life
describe greenhouse effect - long and short wavelength
- when shortwave radiation (uv) from sun strikes the Earth’s surface, it is absorbed and re-emitted from the surface of the Earth as infrared radiation ( longer wavelength)
- lots of the radiation is trapped inside the earth’s eatmosphere by the greenhouse gases which can absorb and store the energy
human activities that increase levels of carbon dioxide
when you burn fossil fuels and incomplete combustion takes place - petrol, kerosene
deforestation - less trees to absorb co2 from atmosphere by photosynthesis.
human activities that increase levels of methane
rearing cattle for produce/eating
rice paddy fields - rotting of vegetation causes methane to be given off
what is the effect and cause of rising sea levels?
global warming leads to ice caps melting causing rising sea levels. this would mean that low lying cities could experience flooding and permenant loss of usable land
effect of intense and frequent droughts
collapse of agricultural production - starvation
effect and cause of storms
warmer oceans means more moisture is entering the atmosphere so storms and hurricanes are more energetic and destructive
effect pf extreme heatwaves and rainfall
- loss of life and destruction of infrastructure and ecosystems
ways to reduce carbon footprint
- cuting out unneccessary journeys
- using public transport
- electric vehicles
- recycling and re-using
what is carbon footprint
the total amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted over the full life cycle of a product, service or event
what is coal used for
power stations and steel productions
how is carbon monoxide produced and impact
incomplete combustion of burning fossil fuels. it binds to red blood cells instead of oxygen and so is poisonous
carbon produced and impact
incomplete combustion of burning fossil fuels. soot/particulates of carbon cause global dimming, asthma, breathing problems and lung cancer
how is sulphur dioxide produced and impact
fossil fuels contain small quantities of sulpher, and when they are burned it reacts wth oxygen in the air. this causes acid rain which kills fish and corrodes buildings. also causes respiratory problems in humans
how is nitrogen oxide produced and impact
nitrogen and oxygen inside hot car engines react together. it causes acid rain which kills fish and corrodes buildings. also causes respiratory problems in humans
