Atmosphere and Hydrosphere Flashcards

Flashcards reviewing the origin and effects of the atmosphere and hydrosphere.

Origin of the Atmosphere and Hydrosphere

The study of how the Earth's atmosphere and hydrosphere were formed.

Big Bang

The event that led to the formation of the first element.

Hydrogen Burning

The process of generating light nuclei through the burning of hydrogen.

Helium Burning

Nuclear fusion reactions that occur in stars with cores dense in helium.

CNO cycle

A process that starts with 16O or 12C responsible for the stellar synthesis of nitrogen isotopes.

Enceladus

Saturn's moon containing a soda ocean beneath its icy crust.

Europa

A moon of Jupiter with a saltwater ocean twice the size of Earth's oceans.

Hadean Eon

An eon during which Earth experienced asteroid bombardment and formation of its core, mantle, and crust.

Earth's Early Atmosphere

Contained almost no free dioxygen and was composed of gases like N2, CO2, and water vapor.

Source of Water on Earth

Theories include volcanic activity and delivery by comets and meteorites.

Pacific Ocean

Deepest ocean, home to the Mariana Trench and part of the 'Ring of Fire'.

Laguna de Bay

The largest lake in the Philippines and the third largest in SE Asia.

Amazon River

Largest river in the world, located in South America with its source in the Andes Mountains.

Panspermia

Hypothesis invoked to explain how life began on Earth.

RNA world

Suggested as life's first aspect.

Anoxic World

The state of Earth before ~2.5 BYA, lacking free dioxygen.

Anaerobic Metabolism

Metabolic processes that occurred in the absence of dioxygen during the Archean Eon.

Cyanobacteria

The only bacteria that evolved using water and are correlated with the rise of dioxygen.

Photosynthesis

Process by which cyanobacteria evolved. Correlated with a turning point in Earth's history.

Great Oxidation Event

A period around ~2.2 BYA when the concentration of free O2 began to rise significantly.

BIFs

Precipitation of iron from seawater by oxidation during the early Earth.

Red Beds

Terrestrial iron deposits that have been oxidized.

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)

Extremely toxic for anaerobes during the rise of dioxygen.

Eukaryotes

Organisms that developed as a whole new metabolism due to the rise of Dioxygen.

Molecular Hydrogen Outflows

Outflows composed of molecular hydrogen, seen as jets and bow shocks.

Cosmic History of the Elements

The study of how elements formed after the Big Bang and in stars.

Earth's Crust Composition

Primarily composed of Oxygen and Silicon.

Radioactivity of Isotopes

A source of heat in the interior of the early Earth (e.g., 238U, 235U, 232Th, and 40K).

Earth's Moon Formation

Formed from particles blasted out of the Earth, slowing down Earth's rotation.

Stromatolites

Structures formed in shallow water that serve as evidence of early life (aged 3.5 B.Y.).