The Earth’s Atmosphere Flashcards

1
Q

Volcanoes

A

Released CO2, water vapour, nitrogen

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2
Q

Water vapour from volcanoes

A

Condensed and fell as rain

Collected in crust forming oceans

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3
Q

Comets

A

Icy comets could’ve brought water

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4
Q

Earth stabilising

A

CO2 main gas in atmosphere
Methane and ammonia
No oxygen
Once stabilised, life began

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5
Q

Evolution due to oxygen in earths early atmosphere

A
Bacteria and other simple organisms (algae) evolved
Algae photosynthesised = oxygen
More plants evolved
Plants colonised surface of Earth
Animals evolved
Relied on algae for food
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6
Q

Skeletons in Earth’s early atmosphere

A

Skeletons built at bottom of oceans
Layer of sediment on top of them
Buried under pressure depositing formed sedimentary carbonate rocks
Remains of living things heated on Earth’s crust
Formed fossil fuels

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7
Q

Coal’s formation

A

Coal classed as sedimentary rock

Formed from thick deposits of plant material

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8
Q

Crude oil and natural gas formation

A

Formed from remains of plankton deposited in muds
Covered by sediments that became layers of rocks when compressed over millions of years
Found trapped beneath layers of rocks

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9
Q

Ammonia and methane

A

Ammonia and methane was removed by reactions with oxygen, once oxygen had been formed by photosynthesis

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10
Q

Consequences of rising sea levels of greenhouse gases

A

Melting ice caps
Expansion of warmer oceans
Flooding of low-lying land
Increased coastal erosion
Islands disappear
Extreme weather events = more frequent and severe storms
Disruption of rainfall
Food-producing capacity of different regions affected (dry areas)
Monsoons heavier
Changes to distribution of wildlife species
Ecosystems under stress

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11
Q

Carbon footprint

A

The carbon footprint of a product, service or event is the total amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted over its full life cycle

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12
Q

How is electricity made

A

Burning fossil fuels

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13
Q

Solutions of solving our carbon footprint

A

Carbon capture and storage

World leaders meet to negotiate limits

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14
Q

Problems of reducing carbon footprint

A

Scientific disagreement causes consequences of global climate change
Incomplete targets for reducing greenhouse gases
Poorer countries not included in negotiations
People need information about climate change to make a positive contribution

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15
Q

Pollution from fuels

A

Contain sulfur = acid rain -> kills animals and plants

Sulfur impurities removed from fuel before burnt

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16
Q

Incomplete combustion

A

Instead of all carbon turning into CO2, some CO is formed
Carbon monoxide = toxic gas, colourless and odourless
Red blood cells carry it instead of oxygen poisoning you

17
Q

High temperatures inside engine

A

Unreactive nitrogen gas

Makes nitrogen oxides = toxic, affect people with asthma

18
Q

Burn hydrocarbons

A

Diesel engines burn hydrocarbons = bigger molecules than petrol engines
Large molecules do not burn completely
Tiny solid particles containing carbon, hydrocarbons produced

19
Q

Particulates

A
Produced from burning hydrocarbons
Carried in air to upper atmosphere
Reflect sunlight back
Global dimming
Damage cells in lungs, cause cancer
20
Q

Combustion of fossil fuels (what is formed)

A

Nitrogen oxides = oxidation at high temp in vehicle engines
Carbon monoxide = incomplete combustion
Particulates = burning diesel
Sulfur dioxide = oxidation of sulfur impurities
Carbon dioxide = complete combustion