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What is the atmospheric system?
The gases that surround the Earth's surface and are retained by Earth's gravitational field.
What is the Hadean era?
The period from the formation of the Earth to 4 billion years ago, characterized by extreme temperatures and an environment unsuitable for life.
What are prokaryotes?
Simple, single-celled bacteria that were the first forms of life on Earth, appearing about 3.8 billion years ago.
What are cyanobacteria?
Photosynthetic bacteria that produced oxygen as a by-product and played a crucial role in increasing atmospheric oxygen levels.
What is the Archean era?
The period from 4 billion to 2.5 billion years ago, marked by the formation of oceans and the appearance of early life.
What is the Proterozoic era?
The period from 2.5 billion to 542 million years ago, characterized by increasing atmospheric oxygen levels and the appearance of more complex organisms.
What is the Phanerozoic era?
The period from 542 million years ago to the present day, during which the first green plants appeared on land
What is ozone?
A molecule formed by the splitting of oxygen molecules in the upper atmosphere by sunlight energy
What are eukaryotes?
More complex single-celled organisms that appeared about 2 billion years ago.
What are stromatolites?
Mounds of bacteria covered in layers of cyanobacteria, providing fossil evidence of early life
What are the key functions of the atmosphere for life?
Provides a shield from meteorites, protects from harmful solar radiation, moderates and stabilizes climate, provides oxygen for respiration and carbon dioxide for photosynthesis.
How is the atmosphere linked to other Earth systems?
Through biogeochemical cycles, such as the carbon cycle, connecting it with the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere.
How has the composition of the atmosphere changed over time?
Dramatically, initially dominated by hydrogen and helium, then volcanic emissions led to water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, etc., and finally, living organisms contributed to the increase in oxygen
What is the impact of human activity on the atmosphere?
Can cause adverse changes, such as increasing carbon dioxide levels through fossil fuel combustion, leading to climate change.
How does the atmosphere regulate temperature?
Heat from the sun creates a temperature difference between the tropics and polar regions, driving air circulation and distributing heat.
What are aerosols?
Tiny particles suspended in the atmosphere, including dust, sea salt, volcanic ash, and pollutants. (You'll need to refer to the video mentioned in the document for more specifics on aerosols.)
What were the early Earth conditions like?
Extremely hot, bombarded by debris, with volcanic activity, and an atmosphere mainly composed of hydrogen and helium
What is the significance of cyanobacteria?
They were photosynthetic bacteria that produced oxygen as a by-product, playing a crucial role in increasing atmospheric oxygen levels.
How did the ozone layer form?
Oxygen molecules in the upper atmosphere were split by sunlight energy, and the resulting oxygen atoms combined with other oxygen molecules to form ozone.
When did life first appear on land?
Around 500 million years ago, during the Phanerozoic era, after the ozone layer developed enough to protect life from harmful UV radiation.
What is 'snowball Earth'?
A hypothetical period in Earth's history when the planet was entirely or nearly entirely covered in ice. (You'll need to refer to the video mentioned in the document for more details.
What is the troposphere?
The lowest layer of the atmosphere, extending from the Earth's surface to about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) above. It contains most of the atmosphere's mass and is where weather occurs.
What is the stratosphere?
The layer above the troposphere, extending from about 12 to 50 kilometers (7.5 to 31 miles) above the Earth's surface. It contains the ozone layer, which absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
What is the mesosphere?
The layer above the stratosphere, extending from about 50 to 85 kilometers (31 to 53 miles) above the Earth's surface. It is the coldest layer of the atmosphere, and most meteors burn up here.
What is the exosphere?
The outermost layer of the atmosphere, extending from about 600 kilometers (373 miles) above the Earth's surface to about 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles). It gradually merges with space
What is the thermosphere?
The layer above the mesosphere, extending from about 85 to 600 kilometers (53 to 373 miles) above the Earth's surface. It is characterized by very high temperatures due to the absorption of solar radiation. The International Space Station orbits in this layer.
Card 5: Exosphere
Inputs
Solar Radiation: The primary energy input, driving atmospheric processes.
Volcanic Eruptions: Release gases like water vapor, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide.
Human Activities: Emission of greenhouse gases (CO2, methane, etc.) and pollutants.
outputs
Radiation to Space: Energy radiated back into space as infrared radiation.
Water Vapor: Released into the atmosphere through evaporation and transpiration.
stores
Gases: Nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other trace gases.
Heat: Stored in the atmosphere, particularly in the upper layers.
Moisture: Stored as water vapor and clouds.
processes
Solar Radiation Absorption and Re-radiation: Energy from the sun is absorbed by the Earth's surface and atmosphere, then re-radiated as infrared radiation.
Greenhouse Effect: Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, warming the planet.
Water Cycle: Involves evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff.
Atmospheric Circulation: Movement of air masses due to temperature and pressure differences.
Photochemical Reactions: Chemical reactions triggered by sunlight, leading to the formation of ozone and other compounds.
Note 
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