Section 22: Chemistry of the Atmosphere 2 Flashcards
What is the approximate proportion of nitrogen in Earth’s current atmosphere?
80%
What is the approximate proportion of oxygen in Earth’s current atmosphere?
20%
How did algae and plants reduce levels of carbon dioxide in Earth’s early atmosphere?
By photosynthesising
What was formed when shells of organisms made using dissolved carbon dioxide fell to the bottom of the ocean and were covered and compressed?
Sedimentary rock
What was formed when plants that grew millions of years ago died and were trapped and compressed under rocks?
Coal
What was formed when plankton that lived in the ocean millions of years ago died and were trapped and compressed under rocks?
Crude Oil and Natural Gas
Name three greenhouse gases
Water Vapour, Carbon Dioxide, and Methane
Describe the wavelength of radiation that comes from the sun and is reflected by the Earth
From the Sun: short wave,
From the Earth: long wave
What happens to the long wave radiation that is reflected from the Earth in the atmosphere?
It is absorbed by greenhouse gases
What is the name given to the process that warms up the surface of the Earth?
The greenhouse effect
What human activities increase carbon dioxide levels?
Deforestation and burning fossil fuels
What human activities increase methane levels?
Farming animals and landfill
What is the name given to the increasing average temperature of the Earth?
Climate Change
Name an effect of climate change
Increased flooding, changes in rainfall patterns, frequency of storms, amount of water in a habitat etc…
