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science organisation > chem of le atmospheré > Flashcards

chem of le atmospheré Flashcards

1
Q

how we know what atmo was like b4

A

Scientists know the historic composition of the air by analysing the tiny air bubbles trapped
in ice cores taken at the poles
The air bubbles were trapped as the snow and ice was laid down tens of thousands of years
ago and provide a snapshot of what our atmospherewas likeback then

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2
Q

1 thery on hw erly amto form

A

Onetheoryofhow theearly atmosphereformedsuggests thatthevolcanoes released
gases from theEarth’s interiorthrough violenteruptions

released lotsof co2, h2o, n2, h2

Earth’s gravitypreventedthegases from escapingintoouter spaceandthey formedthe
early atmosphere

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3
Q

surface of early earth

A

Thesurfaceoftheearly Earth was molten formillions of years duringwhich timetherewas
noatmospheresurroundingtheplanet

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4
Q

how land masses formed?

A

Eventually, coolingbegan totake effect andallow formolten materials toslowly solidify

forminglandmasses

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4
Q

rising sea lvl

A

Themeltingofthepolaricecaps andglaciers is leadingtorisingsea levels
This results in destructiveerosion tocoastalregions, floodingofwetlands andhabitat
destruction forbirds, fish andplants
Low lyingcities arelikely toseeincreasedfloodingandpermanentloss ofusableland
withoutexpensivebarrier systems
Increasedsoil salinity is alsoa consequenceofrisingsea levels

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5
Q

early amtosphere levels

A

lots of co2
very little o2
some water vapoiur
some n2
other gases

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5
Q

uv ray hitting earth

A

When shortwavelength radiation (e.g.ultravioletradiation)from thesun strikes theEarth’s
surface, itis absorbedandre-emitted from thesurfaceoftheEarth as infraredradiation
which has a longerwavelength

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5
Q

how ocean form

A

WhilethesurfaceoftheEarth was still very hotthelargequantities ofwater vapour
remainedin thegaseous state
When conditions cooled suffciently,thewater vapourlatercondensed andfelltothe

surfaceoftheEarth,formingtheoceans

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6
Q

methods to estimate past climate conditions

A

Therearesomemethods toestimatepastclimateconditions,which include:
Analysis ofthefossilrecord andtreerings
Analysis ofgas bubbles trappedin icefrom hundreds ofthousands of years ago

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6
Q

how sedimentry rock form

A

Animals fedon theplants which transferredcarbon totheirtissues includingbones and
shells
When theseorganisms died,theirremains formedsedimentary rocks

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6
Q

how ocean forming reduce co2 in atmo

A

Carbon dioxideis a water solublegas (itis thegas usedin fizzydrinks) anddissolves readily
When thewater vapourcondensed largeamounts ofCO dissolvedin theoceans
Carbonatesubstances wereprecipitated duringthis process which laterformed
sediments
Theseprocesses reducedtheamountofcarbon dioxidein theatmosphere

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6
Q

greenhouse effect

A

Greenhousegases maintain thetemperatures on Earth which is known as thegreenhouse
effect

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6
Q

hat contribute to methane inc in air

A

morewastesomorelandfill sites areneededwhich increases theamountof
methanebydecomposition

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6
Q

enhanced greenhouse effect

A

Increasinglevels ofcarbon dioxideandmethane, although presentin only small amounts,
arecausingsignificant upsettotheEarth’s naturalconditions by trappingextra heatenergy

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6
Q

how co2 locked up

A

Someofthelivingorganisms wereburiedunderlayers ofmudwhen theydied
Overmillions of years,theheat andpressureturnedthedeadorganisms intofossil fuels,
such as crudeoil, naturalgas andcoal
Theformation of sedimentary rock andfossilfuels ‘lockedup’thecarbon from carbon
dioxidein theearly atmosphere

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6
Q

how o2 level inc

A

plants andalgaebegan photosynthesisingwhich usedupcarbon dioxidefrom
theatmosphereandreleasedoxygen:

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7
Q

uv being stored on earth

A

Much oftheradiation, however, is trapped insidetheEarth’s atmospherebygreenhouse
gases which can absorbandstoretheenergy

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8
Q

deforestation

A

increase global warming
burning tree release co2
also less tree to take in co2

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8
Q

storms

A

Theintensityof storms is increasing
Warmerocean surfaces mean moremoistureis enteringtheatmospheresostorms and
hurricanes aremoreenergetic anddestructive

9
Q

droughts

A

Someregions areseeingdevastatingdroughts leadingtocropfailureandcollapseof
agriculturalproduction
Foodproduction is greatly compromisedleadingtohardshipandstarvation

10
Q

extreme heatwaves and rainfall

A

Extremeweatherevents arebecomingmorefrequentresultingin greatloss oflifeand
destruction ofinfrastructureandecosystems
Changingrainfallpatterns areleadingtouneven distribution offreshwater supplies
Lackofreliablefreshwater supplies results in economic andpolitical instability as
neighbouringcountries competefordwindlingresources

11
Q

fuel - hydrocarbons

A

Afuel is a substancewhich releases energy in an exothermic reaction
When thefuel is a hydrocarbon then water andcarbondioxidearetheproducts formed

12
Q

incomp conbustion

A

Someofthefueldoes not undergocombustion andunburnedhydrocarbons arereleased
intotheatmosphere
Itoccurs in someappliances such as boilers andstoves as well as in internal combustion
engines
In addition towater, carbon particles (soot) andcarbon monoxidemaybeproducedduring
incompletecombustion

13
Q

what does combustion of fuel produce

A

Theburningoffossilfuels releases thegases carbondioxide, carbon monoxide,oxides of
nitrogen andoxides of sulfur
In addition, incompletecombustion ofthefuels gives risetounburned hydrocarbons and
carbonparticulates

14
Q

how soot form

A

Solidcarbon particles (orparticulates) releasedfrom incompletecombustion clump
togethertoform soot which gradually falls back totheground

15
Q

oxides of n2

A

Oxides ofnitrogen comelargely from vehicleexhausts andalsocontributetoacidrain
They areproducedwhen nitrogen andoxygen react athigh temperatures which are
reachedin a vehicleengine

16
Q

what else can oxides of n2 produce

A

acidrain,oxides ofnitrogen producephotochemical smogandbreathing
diffculties particularly those sufering from asthma

17
Q

which microorganism contriued to increase in n2

A

denitrifying bacteria that broke down organic waste produced n2

18
Q

problems the products of combusting hydrocarbons cause

A

co2 - global warming
co - low blood o2
so2 - acid rain
particulates - global dimming
n2 - smog

19
Q

effects of global warming

A

desertification
metling polar regions
forest fires
rising sea levels

20
Q

how coal produced

A

giant plants died
sank to bottom of swamp
water and dirt piled on it
pressure and heat incres
plant underwent chem and phys changes
o2 pushed out - coal made

21
Q

what is carblon footprint

A

total amount of co2 and other greenhouse gases emitted of full life cycle of product

22
Q

whast carblon off setting

A

taking co2 from industrial process and depositing it into underground rocks to prevent it entering atmo

23
Q

whats carbon capture

A

carrying out activites that incre co2 removal from atmo

e.g planting trees

24
Q

carbon neutral

A

no net incrs of co2

25
Q

sources of methane gas

A

landfills, oil and natural gas systems, agricultural activities, coal mining, stationary and mobile combustion, wastewater treatment, and certain industrial processes

26
Q

how individual reduc co2 footprint

A

cycle/walk more
reduce air travel
use publictransport more often
increase insulation inhomes
turn of elec devices when they not being usedw

27
Q

worldwide actins reducing carbon footprint

A

alternative nrg suppy use
energy conservation
carblon capture + storg
carbon tax and licenses
carbon offsetting
carbon neutrality

28
Q

sustainable is

A

ability to maintain use of resource for long time without running out

29
Q

how n2 changed from lvls in early atmo

A

released from volcanic erupt
denitriters produced n2

30
Q

how co2 lvls change from early atmo

A

decrease cuz of inc of photosyn - inc co2 intake
seas formed, co2 dissolved in water
co2 locked up in rocks

31
Q

ho o2 lvl change from lvls early atmo

A

inc from release from photosyn

32
Q

problems w/ reduing carblon footprint

A
  • scientific disagreement over causes and consequences of global climate change
  • lack of public information and education
  • lifestyle changes (people don’t want to give up their cars)
  • economic considerations (it will cost money)
  • incomplete international cooperation
33
Q

advantages complete combustion

A
  • less soot (carbon particulates) is made with complete combustion
  • more heat per gram of fuel is released with complete combustion
  • poisonous carbon monoxide is not produced with complete combustion
34
Q
A

science organisation (9 decks)

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