Chemistry Of The Atmosphere Flashcards
what was the earth like for the first billion years?
surface covered in volcanoes that released lots of gas.
what was the early atmosphere like?
mostly carbon dioxide and virtually no oxygen. like Mars and Venus
what did volcanic activity release?
nitrogen that built up, water vapour, small amount of methane and ammonia.
how were oceans formed?
water vapour in atmosphere condensed.
how was carob dioxide removed from the early atmosphere?
dissolved in the oceans, went through a series of reactions to form carbonate precipitates that formed sediments on sea bank.
what did green plants and algae evolve to do?
carry out photosynthesis to take in carbon dioxide
what happens when plants, plankton and marine animals die?
fall to the seabed and get buried under layers of rocks, over millions of years they become compressed. sedimentary rocks oil and gas are formed trapping co2 with them
what are formed from deposits of plankton ?
crude oil and natural gas are formed.
what happened as oxygen levels increased?
more complex life could evolve.
what causes global heating?
greenhouse gases dont absorb short wavelengths they absorb long ones that get reflected back off the earth, they re-radiate it in all directions, including back towards earth.
what forms of human activity affect the amount of greenhouse gases.
deforestation:fewer trees= less co2 to be removed
agriculture: more methane production
creating waste: more landfill sites
what could happen due to climate change?
ice caps melting, rise in sea levels, increased flooding, change in rainfall patterns, frequency and severity of storms could increase
whats a carbon foot print?
amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released over the full life style of something.
what can be used instead of fossil fuels?
renewable or nuclear energy
what can the government do?
tax companies and individuals, put a cap on emissions, sell licences.
