atmosphere

what planets are similar to the early atmosphere

mars and venus

how long ago did the earth form

approx 4.6 billion years ago

how much nitrogen makes up the atmosphere today

78%

how much oxygen makes up the atmosphere today

21%

what is the theoretical reason as to what the early atmosphere was like

intense volcanic activity releasing gases that had similarities to mars and venus

what do the atmospheres of mars and venus have in common

• large amounts of carbon dioxide

• little to no oxygen

• small amounts of other gases (ammonia and methane)

what did the volcanic activity release

water vapour and nitrogen

how did oceans form

the earth cooled and water vapour condensed

what did the presence of water do to the atmosphere

oxygen levels increase, carbon dioxide levels decreased

how did oxygen increase

evolving of algae, photosynthesis

how did carbon dioxide decrease

as it is a soluble gas, when oceans formed it dissolved to form carbonate compounds, also absorbed from the oceans into photosynthetic algae and plants

what is a greenhouse gas

absorbs infrared radiation and emits it as heat energy

examples of greenhouse gases

carbon dioxide, water vapour, methane

what is the greenhouse effect

allows short wavelength radiation from the sun to pass through and warm the earth, they trap some of the long wavelength radiation that radiates back from the earth. helps the atmosphere maintain the temperature high enough to support life

why are the levels of greenhouse gases increasing

the increase of carbon dioxide correlates with the increased used of fossil fuels

what causes global warming

human activities, primary fossil fuel burning, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in the earths atmosphere

why is rising ocean levels bad for the climate system

causes glaciers and ice sheets to melt, adding more water to the oceans and the levels rise. oceans absorb 90% of the extra heat from global warming

what is ocean acidification

occurs when the oceans absorbs carbon dioxide

why are extreme weather events bad for the climate

causing heatwaves, droughts, and floods to be more frequent

why is the flooding of coastal regions bad for the climate

cities are at risk of flooding

how is food insecurity affected by the climate

high temperatures, extreme weather events, flooding and droughts can damage farmland, makes it difficult for farmers to grow crops

how is climate change damaging marine ecosystems

rising ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, and ocean anoxia

what is carbon footprint

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

how has pollution affected respiratory problems

nitrous and sulphurous oxide inflames the tract in the lungs and cause respiratory disease

how has pollution affected acid rain

sulphurous and nitrous oxide reacts with water in the atmosphere to acids which kill aquatic life, damage stone buildings and damage forests/plants

how has pollution affected global dimming

solid particles of fuel/products of incomplete combustion released into the atmosphere block light from passing through the atmosphere

how can the effects of pollution be reduced

reducing the amount of chemicals in fuels or removing the pollutant from gases before they are released