Chemistry Of The Atmosphere Flashcards
The earth formed
4.6 billion years ago
Intense volcanic activity releases
Mainly carbon dioxide
Water vapour which condensed to form the oceans
Small proportions of methane and ammonia
Nitrogen which builds up
Green plants and algae evolve and
Carbon dioxide is reduced and oxygen increased photosynthesis
Lots of oxygen-microorganisms that can’t cope are killer off
Carbon becomes trapped in sedimentary rock formed from the shells and skeletons of marine organisms
Other gases react with oxygen to form nitrogen
Nitrogen also produced by bacteria removing nitrates from decaying plant material
Proportion of gases now
78% nitrogen
21%oxygem
Small amounts of carbon dioxide and other noble gases
Water vapour
Present in varying quantities
0-3%
Oxygen increased due to
Algae and plants photosynthesis
Photosynthesis equation
*
Algae first started producing
Oxygen
2.7 billion years ago
As plants evolved
Amount of oxygen increased
When the amount of oxygen increased enough
To allow animals to evolve
Carbon dioxide decreased
As plants and algae evolve
Photosynthesis
Becomes Locked in sedimentary rocks and fossil fuels
Limestone formed from skeletons and shells etc
Coal formed from plant deposits that were buried and compressed
Reaction between CO2 and sea water
-insoluble carbonates that are deposited as sediment
-soluble hydrogen carbonates
Too much CO2 in ocean can harm sea life such as corals
Sun gives out
High energy
Short wavelength
Infrared radiation
Radiation from the sun
Passes through the atmosphere and reaches the earths surface
Some radiation is absorbed by
The earths surface
Lower energy longer wavelength infrared radiation is
Reflected by earths surface