C13 The Earth's Atmosphere Flashcards

1
Q

according to theory, what gases did volcanoes release into Earth’s early (first billion years) atmosphere

A
  • volcanoes released NITROGEN, CARBON DIOXIDE and WATER VAPOUR,
  • these gases formed the early atmosphere.
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2
Q

according to theory, how were oceans formed?

A

oceans formed from water vapour (from volcanoes) condensing

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3
Q

according to theory, what did the Earth’s early atmosphere mainly consist of?
which gases were there small proportions of?

A

mainly carbon dioxide
may have been small proportions of methane, ammonia and oxygen gas.

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4
Q

according to theory, how did the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s early atmosphere decrease?

A
  • when oceans formed, carbon dioxide dissolved in them
  • locked up in sedimentary rock and fossil fuels,
  • from 2.7 billion years ago, more and more bacteria and algae evolved, photosynthesising which released oxygen and took in (so reduced carbon dioxide).
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5
Q

how did animal forms start to evolve?
how did earliest living microorganisms react to this?

A

more plants evolved, more photosynthesis, more oxygen into atmosphere, allowing first animal forms to evolve, relying on algae and plants for food and oxygen to respire.
the earliest microorganisms had evolved without such high oxygen levels, so had little places to survive in and largely died out.

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6
Q

proportion of gases in atmosphere today

A

78% nitrogen
21% oxygen
0.9% argon
0.04% carbon dioxide

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7
Q

what type of radiation does the Earth’s surface emit?

A

long wavelength, infrared

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8
Q

what type of radiation do greenhouse gases let pass through?
which type do they absorb?

A

short wavelength can pass through
they absorb long wavelength, infrared

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9
Q

how do greenhouse gases increase the temp of Earth’s atmosphere?

A

they absorb long wavelength (infrared) radiation emitted from the Earth’s surface
the greenhouse gases trap the energy in the atmosphere
raising its temperature

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10
Q

how does methane get into the atmosphere?

A
  • more cattle (from their decomposing waste),
  • rice fields,
  • swamps,
  • landfill sites.
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11
Q

how has human activity increased the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

A
  • burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into atmosphere,
  • deforestation means there are less trees to take it from the atmosphere for photosynthesis,
  • climate change: temperature rises make carbon dioxide less soluble in water, so dissolve less in oceans.
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12
Q

what is carbon footprint?

A

the total amount of greenhouse gases emitted over the full life cycle of a product, service or event

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13
Q

how to reduce carbon dioxide emissions?

A
  • use less fossil fuels,
  • burn biofuels instead,
  • use less electricity,
  • plant more trees,
  • home insulation to conserve energy,
  • carbon capture and storage.
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14
Q

how to reduce methane emissions

A
  • lower demand for beef, plant-based diets,
  • lower landfill.
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15
Q

describe carbon capture and storage

A

-pump carbon dioxide released into atmosphere into underground fossil fuel power stations to be absorbed into porous rocks

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16
Q

why is it a problem that fossil fuels all contain at least some sulphur impurities?

A
  • the sulfur reacts with oxygen to form sulfur dioxide,
  • this acidic gas is toxic and causes acid rain.
17
Q

when does incomplete combustion happen? what does it produce?

A

when fossil fuels are combusted with not enough oxygen
forming carbon monoxide

18
Q

why is carbon monoxide dangerous?

A
  • it is picked up by haemoglobin in red blood cells in place of oxygen,
  • meaning the body no longer has enough oxygen,
  • meaning you can get drowsy, unconscious or die.
19
Q

how can nitrogen oxides form?
how can they be harmful?

A
  • temperatures in engine are high during combustion,
  • which allows the usually unreactive nitrogen gas to react with oxygen,
  • forming nitrogen oxides,
    = which are toxic, cause acid rain and can trigger asthma.
20
Q

how can particulates enter the air from combustion in engines?

A
  • when large hydrocarbon molecules in engines don’t burn completely,
  • forming tiny solid particles of carbon and unburnt hydrocarbons which are carried into the air.
21
Q

impacts of carbon and unburnt hydrocarbon particulates in the air?

A
  • global dimming (reflect sunlight back into space),
  • could damage cells in lungs and cause cancer.
22
Q

products of combusting fossil fuels

A

sulfur dioxide
carbon dioxide
carbon/hydrocarbon particulates
nitrogen oxides
(incomplete): carbon monoxide