C18 - The Earth's Atmosphere (PAPER 2) Flashcards
What is the atmosphere
a layer of gases surrounding the Earth
What was the early atmosphere composed of
mostly carbon dioxide
How did the oceans form
water vapour condensing as the Earth cooled
How did the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere decrease to today’s levels
dissolved in the oceans, photosynthesis, converted to fossil fuels, precipitated as insoluble metal carbonates
When did life start to appear, and what was the impact of this of oxygen in the atmosphere
about 2.7 billion years ago; amount of atmospheric oxygen increased as it was released in photosynthesis
How has the amount of nitrogen in the atmosphere changed over time
increased slowly as it is a very stable molecule
Why can scientists not be sure about the composition of the Earth’s early atmosphere
it was billions of years ago and the evidence is limited
What is the current composition of the atmosphere
approximately 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and trace amounts of argon, CO2, water and other gases
What is a greenhouse gas
a gas that traps radiation from the Sun
What type of radiation to greenhouse gases absorb
longer wavelength infrared radiation
Name 3 greenhouse gases
methane, carbon dioxide, water vapour
Name 2 ways that recent human activities have increased the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide
burning fossil fuels, deforestation
Name 2 ways that recent human activities have increased the amount of atmospheric methane
rice farming, cattle farming
What is global warming
an increase in the overall global average temperature
What is global climate change
the change in long term weather patterns across the planet
