The atmosphere

Question 1

name the gases in the atmosphere today

Answer 1

Nitrogen
Oxygen
other gases
(co2, water vapour, noble gases)

Question 2

state the proportions of each gas - approximately

Answer 2

Nitrogen - 80%
Oxygen- 20%
other gases- small proportions
(co2, water vapour, noble gases)

Question 3

name a noble gas present in the atmosphere

Answer 3

argon

Question 4

how long has the gases in the atmosphere remained the same for

Answer 4

200 million years

Question 5

how old is the earth

Answer 5

4600 million

Question 6

the earth is very old. how does this affect theories about the early atmosphere

Answer 6

scientists cannot be certain about the early atmosphere

Theories about Earth’s early atmosphere and how it formed changed and developed

Question 7

what happened during the first billion years

Answer 7

during first billion years of the Earth’s
existence there was intense volcanic activity

Question 8

what did the volcanoes release

Answer 8

released other gases that formed the early atmosphere eg
water vapour
(large amount of CO2)
(smaller amount of nitrogren)
(tiny bit of methane and ammonia)

Question 9

how were oceans formed

Answer 9

as earth cooled, water vapour (from volcano), condensed to form oceans

Question 10

what did the early earths atmosphere consist of

Answer 10

mainly CO2
little/ no O2

Question 11

what can you compare the earths early atmosphere to

Answer 11

mars + venus today

Question 12

what can you say about nitrogen in the early atmosphere
2 points

Answer 12

. Volcanoes also produced nitrogen
. gradually built up in the atmosphere

Question 13

describe the early atmosphere

Answer 13

mainly CO2
small but increasing amounts of nitrogen

Question 14

differences between early atmosphere and the present one

Answer 14

much more nitrogen now (80%)
much less CO2 now
much more O2 now (21%)

Question 15

how was the CO2 percentage decreased

Answer 15

some Co2 dissolved in ocean to form a weak acid
this reacted with minerals in the sea
Co2 preciptates are formed in the ocean
over time this formed sediments of carbonate rocks on the sea bed

Question 16

what was some co2 in the sea used to create

Answer 16

corals and shells of organisms

Question 17

how did O2 increase in the atmosphere . how did thisaffect CO2

Answer 17

algae and plants evolved,
they photosynthesised,
releasing O2 and taking in CO2

Question 18

what happened 2.7 billion years ago

Answer 18

algae first produced oxygen

Question 19

what happened a billion years after algae first produced oxygen

Answer 19

plants evolved and the % of oxygen increased- allowing animals to evolve

Question 20

two ways CO2 % decreased

Answer 20

.by formation of sedimentary rocks and fossil fuels that contain carbon
.Plants photosynthesise

Question 21

what is coal made from

Answer 21

from remains of ferns and trees
that haven’t decompose

Question 22

how is coal formed

Answer 22

plant remains covered with sediment + compressed
high temp + pressure creates coal

Question 23

what and how is oil formed

Answer 23

remains of dead biomass , plankton, under the sea bed, compressed by sediment.
heat + pressure convert it to crude oil

Question 24

what is natural gas

Answer 24

mainly hydrocarbon methane

Question 25

where is natural gas found

Answer 25

near deposits of oil

Question 26

how is natural gas formed

Answer 26

from plankton in a similiar way to oil

Question 27

what do all fossil fuels contain, and where did this come from

Answer 27

carbon. came from CO2 taken in by photosynthesis

Question 28

3 green house gases found in the atmosphere

Answer 28

water vapour carbon dioxide methane

Question 29

Describe process wherein radiation gets trapped in atmosphere

Answer 29

.energy from sun travels to earth ( Short WL radiation) .some reflected back into space .most passes into atmosphere .energy from radiation absorbed at earths surface .earths surface radiates energy as (Long WL radiations) .some Long WL radiation interferes with greenhouse gas molecules in atmosphere .the energy in the Long WL radiation is absorbed / trapped

Question 30

why does most of the sun energy pass easily into the earths atmosphere

Answer 30

because the sun energy is short wavelength radiation- which does not react much with gas in atmosphere

Question 31

2 examples of short wave radiation

Answer 31

ultraviolet visible light

Question 32

example of long wave radiation

Answer 32

infra red

Question 33

why does the temp of atmosphere increase

Answer 33

because energy (Long WL radiation) is trapped in the atmosphere

Question 34

how is the greenhouse effect helpful

Answer 34

keeps the temp on earth warm enough to support life. (without it, too cold for most organisms to survive)

Question 35

what are the two main gases in the atmosphere how much of each

Answer 35

nitrogen 20 oxygen 80

Question 36

2 human activities that increase CO2

Answer 36

as we burn fossil fuels as we cut down trees- deforestation

Question 37

what are coal, petrol, diesel gas burned for

Answer 37

coal, -electricity petrol,diesel,- power cars gas- heat homes

Question 38

how and why is deforestation happening

Answer 38

forests burned for more land to graze cattle

Question 39

what are the two ways deforestation increases CO2 %

Answer 39

burning trees releases CO2 less trees to photosynthesise = less CO2 being taken in + less O2 out

Question 40

what human activities release more methane into atmosphere

Answer 40

released in agriculture eg growing rice in flooded paddy fields when cattle - cows- pass wind

Question 41

what 4 human activities increase greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

Answer 41

agriculture, growing rice in flooded fields cattle deforestation burning fossil fuels

Question 42

how does increased greenhouse gases increase temp

Answer 42

temp rises as more of the energy from the sun is trapped

Question 43

How can climate change lead to floods

Answer 43

increase melting of polar ice sheets/ glaciers increases sea levels could mean flooding of low lying areas

Question 44

what will climate change do to weather

Answer 44

more severe weather eg storms in uk

Question 45

how can climate change effect animals and disease

Answer 45

increasing temp change distribution of: animals eg insects + insect borne disease eg malaria

Question 46

4 affects of climate change

Answer 46

increased floods severe weather change in distribution of animals insect borne disease

Question 47

what do many scientists believe about the cause of climate change

Answer 47

it is due to human activities that release greenhouse gases and thus increase the earths temp

Question 48

Based on ...... .......evidence, many scientists believe that ..... activities will cause the temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere to ........ at the .......and that this will result in ...... climate change.

Question 49

what type of evidence do scientists use when it comes to climate change.

Answer 49

peer reviewed evidence

Question 50

why is peer review process important

Answer 50

detect false claims based on poor evidence/bias

Question 51

what is peer reviewed evidence

Answer 51

when scientists can criticise the evidence and decide if its valid

Question 52

problem with our understanding of climate change

Answer 52

climate change is complex and difficult to model

Question 53

climate change is complex and difficult to model- what 3 things does this lead to

Answer 53

-simplified models of climate change -speculation - based only on parts of evidence - biased -biased media stories - opinions

Question 54

it is difficult to model such complex systems as global climate change. This leads to simplified models, speculation and opinions presented in the media that may be based on only parts of the evidence and which may be biased. what do scientists have to do due to this

Answer 54

scientists have to work harder to communicate ideas to public

Question 55

example of an uncertainty about climate change

Answer 55

don't know exact amount temp of atmosphere will increase

Question 56

what can uncertainty about climate change lead to

Answer 56

speculation in the media

Question 57

define carbon foot print. LEARN the definition

Answer 57

The carbon footprint is the total amount of cO2 + other greenhouse gases emitted over the full life cycle of a product, service or event.

Question 58

3 ways we can reduce carbon dioxide emissions

Answer 58

insulating homes/ turning down heating renewable power sources public transport instead of cars

Question 59

where is the energy for heating homes from

Answer 59

from burning fossil fuels

Question 60

why is public transport more environmentally friendly

Answer 60

releases less CO2 per passenger

Question 61

why is it better to use renewable sources of electricity

Answer 61

renewable sources of electricity don't burn fossil fuels- release CO2

Question 62

how can we save electricity on a personal level

Answer 62

energy saving lightbulbs turn appliances off at the plug

Question 63

why may actions to reduce greenhouse gas emmisions and to save energy be limited

Answer 63

most of the solutions are expensive + inconvenient

Question 64

what is the biggest source of methane

Answer 64

agriculture

Question 65

how can we reduce methane emmisions( in agriculture)

Answer 65

eat less beef + dairy products as grazing cattle ( their farts ) release methane

Question 66

why are actions to reduce methane emmissions limited

Answer 66

people like beef and dairy producrs, so wont eat less trapping + burning methane for electricity costs money

Question 67

two sources of methane

Answer 67

landfills grazing cattle

Question 68

how can we reduce methane emmitted from landfills

Answer 68

by trapping the methane Burning it to produce electricity

Question 69

why is it a good idea to trap methane from landfills and burn it for electricity

Answer 69

methane more powerful greenhouse gas then carbon dioxide

Question 70

what is a negative to trapping and burning methane

Answer 70

it costs money

Question 71

2 ways to reduce Methane emissions

Answer 71

eat less beef/ dairy products trap + burn methane to make electricity

Question 72

what do fuels do

Answer 72

release energy when combusted (burnt)

Question 73

2 examples of fuels

Answer 73

coals and hydrocarbons

Question 74

what is coal often used for

Answer 74

to generate electricity in power stations

Question 75

what are hydrocarbons, like those in petrol and diesel, used for

Answer 75

to power vehicles

Question 76

what elements do most fuels contain

Answer 76

carbon and hydrogen potentially some sulfur

Question 77

what happens when we burn most fuels

Answer 77

carbon and hydrogen elements are oxidised -the atoms react with oxygen in the air

Question 78

where is methane found what is it used for

Answer 78

found in natural gas used to heat homes

Question 79

write balanced equation for complete combustion of methane

Answer 79

CH(4) + 2O(2) = CO(2) + 2H(2)O

Question 80

what is made from complete combustion of methane

Answer 80

co2 and H2O

Question 81

why does burning fuels contribute to climate change

Answer 81

because the complete combustion (burning) of fuels releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas

Question 82

what happens when methane is burned with reduced oxygen

Answer 82

carbon monoxide is produced (instead of carbon dioxide)

Question 83

what is carbon monoxide

Answer 83

a toxic gas

Question 84

describe carbon monoxide gas what do people have to tackle this

Answer 84

colourless no smell people have carbon monoxide detectors in homes

Question 85

what are the three products of combustion

Answer 85

carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide water vaour

Question 86

how can you tell that a reaction is complete combustion and not incomplete

Answer 86

carbon dioxide is formed in complete

Question 87

coal contains sulfur what happens when coal is burned

Answer 87

the sulfur atoms are oxidised

Question 88

what is produced from combustion of coal

Answer 88

sulfur dioxide

Question 89

where are oxides of nitrogen produced

Answer 89

inside engines eg cars

Question 90

why / how are oxides of nitrogen produced in engines

Answer 90

the high temperatures cause nitrogen and oxygen from the air to react

Question 91

what 2 affects does sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen cause

Answer 91

breathing problems dissolve in rain water- form acid rain

Question 92

what does acid rain do

Answer 92

damage trees corrode buildings made of limestone

Question 93

how are particulates formed

Answer 93

from burning fuels eg diesel

Question 94

what are particulates

Answer 94

particles of carbon + unburned hydrocarbons

Question 95

what is soot

Answer 95

particles of carbon

Question 96

what is the affect of particulates on human health

Answer 96

increase risk of heart disease increase risk of lung disease

Question 97

what 2 broad affects do particulates have

Answer 97

affect health global dimming

Question 98

how do particulates cause global dimming

Answer 98

they reduce amount of sun energy that reaches earths surface

Question 99

what does global dimming affect

Answer 99

rainfall patterns

Question 100

In coal, why are the dead plants and organisms not decomposed

Answer 100

due to a lack of O2 / acidic condition