The evolution of the atmosphere

Question 1

What percentage of nitrogen is in our atmosphere?

Answer 1

~80%

Question 2

What percentage of oxygen is in our atmosphere?

Answer 2

~20%

Question 3

What percentage of argon is in our atmosphere?

Answer 3

0.93 %

Question 4

What percent of carbon dioxide is in our atmosphere?

Answer 4

0.04%

Question 5

What occurred in the first billion of years in the atmosphere

Answer 5

There was intense volcanic activity that released gases that formed the early atmosphere, consisting mainly of carbon dioxide with little or no oxygen gas.

Question 6

How were the oceans formed in the atmosphere

Answer 6

The water in the air condensed to form the oceans

Question 7

How was nitrogen produced and other gases like methane and ammonia produced in the early atmosphere?

Answer 7

Volcanoes released these gases, which gradually built up over time

Question 8

How were levels of carbon dioxide reduced in the atmosphere?

Answer 8

When the oceans were formed, carbon dioxide dissolved in the water and carbonates were precipitated, producing sediments.
Photosynthesising plants also reduced carbon as well as the formation of certain rocks which trap carbon underground.

Question 9

What is the word equation for photosynthesis?

Answer 9

Carbon dioxide + water + light = glucose + oxygen

Question 10

How were animals and plants developed in the atmosphere?

Answer 10

Algae was first produced ~2.7 billion years ago~ and the increase of oxygen lead to the evolution of plants and animals which are perhaps now living in current years.

Question 11

State the 4 ways carbon dioxide was reduced in the atmosphere?

Answer 11

• formation of sedimentary rock
  -photosynthesis
  -formation of fossil fuels
  -dissolving in oceans

Question 12

What are the greenhouse gases

Answer 12

Carbon dioxide
Methane
Water vapour

Question 13

How is the atmosphere warmed up?

Answer 13

Visible light is absorbed by Earth then infrared is given off. Carbon dioxide is trapped in atmosphere which warms it up.

Question 14

Does visible light have a short or long wavelength

Answer 14

Short

Question 15

Does infrared have a long or short wavelength

Answer 15

Long

Question 16

What is the symbol equation for photosynthesis?

Answer 16

6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2

Question 17

State human examples of increasing carbon dioxide

Answer 17

Burning of forest fuels and deforestation

Question 18

State human activities which increases methane gas

Answer 18

Farming livestock (pigs and cows) and landfills

Question 19

What are fossil fuels and sedimentary rocks?

Answer 19

The ramens of biological matter, formed over millions of years ago

Question 20

How is coal, oil, natural gas and sedimentary rocks formed?

Answer 20

Remains of biological matter falls to the bottom of oceans. Over millions of years layers of sediment settled on top of them and the huge pressures formed these.

Question 21

What are other ways to present data about large complex systems than simplified models.

Answer 21

Speculation, and opinion based media that may only be derived from parts of the evidence, which could be biased. It is difficult to model larger models as well.

Question 22

What is climate change?

Answer 22

An increase in average global temperature

Question 23

State 5 Effects of climate change

Answer 23

Rising sea levels, leading to flooding
Droughts/ severe storms
Desertification
Melting of ice caps
Extinction of some animals

Question 24

What is a carbon footprint

Answer 24

Total amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted over the full life cycle of a product, service, or event.

Question 25

How are carbon footprints reduced?

Answer 25

It is reduced by reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and methane.

Question 26

What’s the greenhouse effect?

Answer 26

The trapping of the suns warmth in a planet’s lower atmosphere, due to the greater transparency of the atmosphere to visible radiation from the sun than to infrared radiation emitted from the planets surface.

Question 27

What is a major source of atmospheric pollutants

Answer 27

The combustion of fuels- most fuels may also contain some sulphur.

Question 28

What gases are produced when burning fuels

Answer 28

Carbon dioxide, water vapour, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen.

Question 29

What are particulates?

Answer 29

Solid particles and unburned hydrocarbons released when burning fuels.

Question 30

What are the effects of carbon monoxide?

Answer 30

It is toxic, colourless, odourless and is not easily detected. It can kill

Question 31

What are the effects of sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen?

Answer 31

Causes respiratory problems in humans and acid rain which affects the environment.

Question 32

What effects does particulates have?

Answer 32

Cause global dimming and health problems in humans.

Question 33

What does complete combustion produce?

Answer 33

Carbon dioxide and water

Question 34

What does incomplete combustion produce?

Answer 34

Carbon monoxide carbon and some soot particles

Question 35

What are pollutants made of

Answer 35

Sulphur dioxide and oxides or nitrogen