Earth Science Flashcards
What did intense volcanic activity produce in the first billion years of earth?
The earth was very dry leading to intense volcanic activity. This produced loads of:
-Carbon Dioxide (mostly)
-Water Vapour
-Nitrogen
(With smaller amounts of)
-Methane
-Ammonia
What happened to the water vapour in the first billion years of earth?
-The earth cooled causing the water vapour in the atmosphere to condense forming the oceans
What did the water vapour condensing into the ocean do to the carbon dioxide?
Allowed carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to dissolve into the oceans to
-turn into carbon precipitates and then
to sediments in seabed
What was the change that happened 2.7 million years ago?
Algae and green plants began to appear and photosynthesised, taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen
What is the equation for photosynthesis?
CO2+ water—> glucose+ Oxygen
How has algae and green plants changed the earth’s atmosphere through photosynthesis?
When Algae and green plants photosynthesis they take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen= slowly reducing amount of CO2 in the atmosphere and Oxygen levels have built up
What was the consequence of more oxygen and less carbon dioxide in the earths atmosphere?
Allows more complex life (like animals) to evolve
What happens to the algae and green plants overtime?
They fell to the seabed and became buried under layers of sediment. Over time sediment becomes compressed to form sedimentary rock, oil and gas (trapping Carbon in plants to stop it entering the atmosphere)
What is Crude Oil and natural gas formed from?
Formed from dead plankton
What is the sedimentary rock, Coal, formed from?
Made from thick deposits of dead plant material
What is the sedimentary rock ‘limestone’ formed from?
Made form calcium carbonate in marine animals skeleton and shells
What is are atmosphere mostly made up of now? And what material do we have a lot of due to algae and green plants dying?
Oxygen 20%
Nitrogen 80%
We have lots of sedimentary rock and fossil fuels.
What doe greenhouse gases do?
-absorb heat radiation form the earth
-then releases energy in all directions, which keeps the earth warm
What are examples of greenhouse gas’?
-Carbon dioxide
-Water Vapour
-Methane
What are the 5 steps of the greenhouse effect?
A= Electromagnetic radiation (from sun) passes through the earths atmosphere
B=The earth absorbs most of the radiation and warms up
C= The Earth radiates energy as infrared radiation (most of the heat is redirected into space)
D= some of the infrared radiation is absorbed by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
E= the lower atmosphere warms up
What has led to Global warming?
The concentration of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere is increasing due to the amount humans produce. (Greenhouse effect is getting stronger)
Why are Carbon dioxide levels rising?
-Burning lots of fossil fuels= releases carbon locked up inside the fuel
-Chopping down trees/ deforestation= less photosynthesis which is important for removing carbon dioxide from atmosphere
Why are methane levels increasing?
-Farm animals produce methane during digestion= released to atmosphere
-Humans produce huge amounts of waste= sometimes releases methane as it decomposes
Why are the consequences of Global Warming hard to know?
-So many different variables= scientists struggle to predict what will happen
What is Climate Change?
All the effects global warming will have on the climate.
What are the consequences of Global Warming?
-Rare weather events like draughts, floods and hurricanes will become more common and severe
-Sea levels rising= submerged islands and seasonal flooding
-Change in temperature and rainfall may cause species to struggle in their habitats (Biodiversity will fall)
Why will sea levels rise as a result of Global Warming?
-higher temperatures causing ice to melt -the water in the ocean warms up, it expands (volume increase)
