chemistry - earth's atmosphere

Percentage of nitrogen in earth’s atmosphere

78%

Percentage of oxygen in earth’s atmosphere

21%

Percentage of argon in earth’s atmosphere

0.9

Percentage of carbon dioxide in earth’s atmosphere

0.04

What was there a lot of in earth’s early atmosphere?

Intense volcanic activity

How were the oceans formed

The intense volcanic activity released water vapour, as earth cooled this condensed into oceans

What did the volcanos release a lot of?

Carbon dioxide

How did oxygen levels increase and carbon dioxide levels decrease?

Photosynthetic algae evolved and produced oxygen, as well as reducing carbon dioxide levels

What happened to the carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere

It became trapped in fossil fuels

Name the three main greenhouse gases

Carbon dioxide, methane, water vapour

Name three human activities which increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

Burning fossil fuels, driving cars, deforestation

Explain the greenhouse effect - four points

The sun radiates short wave length radiation, such as UV, into earth’s atmosphere. It is then absorbed by objects on earth’s surface and re-emitted as long wave length radiation, such as infra red,. This long wave length radiation cannot escape earth’s atmosphere and becomes trapped. This radiation is then absorbed by greenhouse gases, and they then re emit it in all directions.

Why is global warming occurring?

Humans are releasing so much carbon dioxide which should be being absorbed by trees but due to deforestation there isn’t enough trees to absorb it all so it goes into the atmosphere and is absorbed by green house gases , they then re emit it in all directions which heats up earth.

What are some effects global warming can have on earth?

Higher seal levels - ice caps melting, storms and extreme weather, change in rainfall

What is a carbon foot print?

A carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, that are released into the atmosphere because of a person’s or group’s activities

What are some ways a person can reduce their carbon footprint?

Turning down heating, public transport, electric cars, switching to renewable energy sources