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11E > Earth's Atmosphere > Flashcards

Earth's Atmosphere Flashcards

1
Q

How old is the Earth?

A

4.6 billion years

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2
Q

Where did the original atmosphere come from?

A

Volcanic activity

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3
Q

What gases were released by volcanoes?

A

Water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, nitrogen

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4
Q

How were the oceans formed?

A

Water vapour cooled and condensed

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5
Q

How did carbon dioxide levels decrease in the early atmosphere?

A

Dissolved in oceans, formed sedimentary rock, photosynthesis by algae/plants

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6
Q

What gas made up most of the early atmosphere?

A

Carbon dioxide

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7
Q

How did oxygen increase in the early atmosphere?

A

Released by photosynthesis by algae/plants

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8
Q

What gas makes up most of the current atmosphere?

A

Nitrogen

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9
Q

How much of the current atmosphere is nitrogen?

A

78%

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10
Q

How much of the current atmosphere is oxygen?

A

21%

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11
Q

How much of the current atmosphere is carbon dioxide?

A

0.04%

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12
Q

How is carbon removed from the atmosphere?

A

Photosynthesis by plants

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13
Q

How is carbon added to the atmosphere?

A

Respiration by animals and plants, combustion of fossil fuels, decomposition of waste

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14
Q

What is a carbon sink?

A

A store of carbon, not in the atmosphere

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15
Q

Name a carbon sink

A

Oceans, sedimentary rocks, fossil fuels, marine organism’s shells

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16
Q

What is the greenhouse effect?

A

The trapping of infrared radiation by gases in the atmosphere

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17
Q

Name three greenhouse gases

A

Carbon dioxide, water vapour, methane, oxides of nitrogen

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18
Q

What type of waves are absorbed by greenhouse gases?

A

Long wavelength

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19
Q

Why is the greenhouse effect vital for Earth?

A

Maintains a temperature suitable for life

20
Q

What human activities contribute to the greenhouse effect?

A

Combustion of fossil fuels, cattle farming, rice farming, decomposition of waste in landfill, deforestation

21
Q

Describe one consequence of ice caps melting

A

Sea levels rising causing flooding of low lying land, loss of habitat

22
Q

Describe one consequence of changing rainfall patterns

A

Drought and flooding more likely leading to changes in food production

23
Q

How can humans mitigate the effect of global warming?

A

Using renewable resources, reducing waste, stopping deforestation, carbon capture and storage

24
Q

Name four pollutants

A

Carbon monoxide, particulates, sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen

25
Q

What is the effect of carbon monoxide on the body?

A

Binds to haemoglobin, reduces the amount of oxygen carried in the blood, causes breathlessness, loss of consciousness and death

26
Q

What is the effect of sulphur dioxide on the environment?

A

Causes acid rain - damages buildings and statues, damages plants and aquatic animals

27
Q

What is the effect of oxides of nitrogen on the body?

A

Causes respiratory diseases like emphysema, bronchitis, asthma

28
Q

What is the effect of particulates on the body?

A

Breathed in, pass into the lungs, cause DNA mutations and cancer

29
Q

What are the four types of precipitation?

A

Rain, snow, sleet, hail

30
Q

How do clouds form?

A

Water vapour cools and condenses

31
Q

Name three sources of freshwater

A

Rain, lakes, rivers

32
Q

What is potable water?

A

Water that is safe to drink

33
Q

What are the three properties of potable water?

A

pH 6.5-8.5, low levels of dissolved minerals, no pathogens

34
Q

Name three ways to sterilise water

A

Ozone, UV light, chlorine (boiling)

35
Q

Why does water need to be sterilised?

A

To remove pathogens

36
Q

What are three stages in freshwater treatment?

A

Sedimentation, filtration, sterilisation

37
Q

What extra stages are involved in waste water treatment?

A

Aerobic and anaerobic digestion of waste by bacteria

38
Q

What is desalination?

A

Removal of salt from saltwater

39
Q

What are the two methods of desalination?

A

Distillation and reverse osmosis

40
Q

Describe distillation

A

Saltwater is heated until the water evaporates, the water vapour cools and condenses to produce pure water

41
Q

Describe reverse osmosis

A

Saltwater is forced under pressure through a partially permeable membrane to remove the water

42
Q

Why aren’t desalination techniques a sustainable way of producing potable water?

A

They have high energy requirements so are costly, reverse osmosis produces a very salty solution (brine) which is damaging to the environment

43
Q

Describe the effects that the evolution of plants had on the Earth’s atmosphere

A

carbon dioxide decreased, oxygen increased

44
Q

Name two gases that contribute to global warming

A

Carbon dioxide and methane

45
Q

What is the carbon footprint?

A

amount of carbon a product, service or event emits over its full life cycle

11E (24 decks)

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