The evolution of the atmosphere

Question 1

What is Phase 1 of the evolution of the atmosphere?

Volcanoes gave out gases

Answer 1

Volcanoes erupted and released lots of gases

Was mostly carbon dioxide with virtually no oxygen

Volcanic activity also released nitrogen some water vapour and little amounts of methane and ammonia

Question 2

What is Phase 2 of the evolution of the atmosphere?

Answer 2

Water vapour condensed forming oceans
CO 2dissolved in the oceans. The dissolved CO2 formed sediments on the seabed

Green plants and algae absorbed some of the CO2 so they could carry out photosynthesis

Question 3

What happens when plants and plankton die?

Answer 3

Fall to the seabed and get buried by layers of sediment.
They become compressed and form sedimentary rocks oil and gas- trapping the carbon and helping keep CO2 levels low

Question 4

What are examples of fossil fuels

Answer 4

Things like coal, crude oil and natural gas

Question 5

How are crude oils and natural gases formed?

Answer 5

Crude oil and Natural gases are formed from deposits of plankton

Question 6

What is coal

Answer 6

A sedimentary rock made from thick plant deposits

Question 7

What is limstone

Answer 7

A sedimentary rock.
Mostly made up of Calcium Carbonate
Deposits from the shells and skeletons of marine organisms

Question 8

What is Phase 3 of the evolution of the atmosphere?

Grenn plants and Algae produced oxygen

Answer 8

Produced oxygen by photosynthesis
Today’s Atmosphere is 80% nitrogen 20% oxygen and a little amount of noble gases argon and CO2