Today's Atmosphere

Question 1

How is human activity changing the atmosphere?

Answer 1

• Burning fossil fuels releases CO2
• Deforestation contributes to increase in CO2 levels. Trees take in CO2 from the atmosphere, getting rid of trees means more CO2
• Livestock farming releases huge amounts of methane into the atmosphere.

Question 2

How does volcanic activity change the atmosphere?

Answer 2

Sulfur dioxide can be thrown high up into the atmosphere when volcanoes erupt. SD gas reacts with sunlight, waterC oxygen and dust to form VOLCANIC SMOG.
CO2 is also released into the atmosphere by volcanic eruptions.

Question 3

How have we learnt a lot about past atmospheres from Antarctic ice cores?

Answer 3

Each year a layer of ice forms and bubbles of air get trapped inside it, then it’s buried by the next layer. Deeper the ice, older the air. If you examine the air in different layers you can see how the air has changed.