Earth's Atmosphere

Question 1

How old is the Earth?

Answer 1

4.6 billion years

Question 2

Where did the original atmosphere come from?

Answer 2

Volcanic activity

Question 3

What gases were released by volcanoes?

Answer 3

Water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, nitrogen

Question 4

How were the oceans formed?

Answer 4

Water vapour cooled and condensed

Question 5

How did carbon dioxide levels decrease in the early atmosphere?

Answer 5

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

Question 6

What gas made up most of the early atmosphere?

Answer 6

Carbon dioxide

Question 7

How did oxygen increase in the early atmosphere?

Answer 7

Released by photosynthesis by algae/plants

Question 8

What gas makes up most of the current atmosphere?

Answer 8

Nitrogen

Question 9

How much of the current atmosphere is nitrogen?

Answer 9

78%

Question 10

How much of the current atmosphere is oxygen?

Answer 10

21%

Question 11

How much of the current atmosphere is carbon dioxide?

Answer 11

0.04%

Question 12

How is carbon removed from the atmosphere?

Answer 12

Photosynthesis by plants

Question 13

How is carbon added to the atmosphere?

Answer 13

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

Question 14

What is a carbon sink?

Answer 14

A store of carbon, not in the atmosphere

Question 15

Name a carbon sink

Answer 15

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

Question 16

What is the greenhouse effect?

Answer 16

The trapping of infrared radiation by gases in the atmosphere

Question 17

Name three greenhouse gases

Answer 17

Carbon dioxide, water vapour, methane, oxides of nitrogen

Question 18

What type of waves are absorbed by greenhouse gases?

Answer 18

Long wavelength

Question 19

Why is the greenhouse effect vital for Earth?

Answer 19

Maintains a temperature suitable for life

Question 20

What human activities contribute to the greenhouse effect?

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Describe one consequence of ice caps melting

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Describe one consequence of changing rainfall patterns

Answer 22

Drought and flooding more likely leading to changes in food production

Question 23

How can humans mitigate the effect of global warming?

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Name four pollutants

Answer 24

Carbon monoxide, particulates, sulphur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen

Question 25

What is the effect of carbon monoxide on the body?

Answer 25

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

Question 26

What is the effect of sulphur dioxide on the environment?

Answer 26

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

Question 27

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

Answer 27

Causes respiratory diseases like emphysema, bronchitis, asthma

Question 28

What is the effect of particulates on the body?

Answer 28

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

Question 29

What are the four types of precipitation?

Answer 29

Rain, snow, sleet, hail

Question 30

How do clouds form?

Answer 30

Water vapour cools and condenses

Question 31

Name three sources of freshwater

Answer 31

Rain, lakes, rivers

Question 32

What is potable water?

Answer 32

Water that is safe to drink

Question 33

What are the three properties of potable water?

Answer 33

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

Question 34

Name three ways to sterilise water

Answer 34

Ozone, UV light, chlorine (boiling)

Question 35

Why does water need to be sterilised?

Answer 35

To remove pathogens

Question 36

What are three stages in freshwater treatment?

Answer 36

Sedimentation, filtration, sterilisation

Question 37

What extra stages are involved in waste water treatment?

Answer 37

Aerobic and anaerobic digestion of waste by bacteria

Question 38

What is desalination?

Answer 38

Removal of salt from saltwater

Question 39

What are the two methods of desalination?

Answer 39

Distillation and reverse osmosis

Question 40

Describe distillation

Answer 40

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

Question 41

Describe reverse osmosis

Answer 41

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

Question 42

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

Answer 42

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

Question 43

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

Answer 43

carbon dioxide decreased, oxygen increased

Question 44

Name two gases that contribute to global warming

Answer 44

Carbon dioxide and methane

Question 45

What is the carbon footprint?

Answer 45

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