Atmosphere

Question 1

Why did water vapour reduce in the early atmosphere

Answer 1

As the earth cooled the water vapour condensed forming the oceans

Question 2

What gave out water vapour and carbon dioxide in the early atmosphere

Answer 2

Volcanoes

Question 3

How was CO2 reduced in the early atmosphere

Answer 3

Through photosynthesis and some dissolved in the oceans.

Question 4

What percent of each gas in the atmosphere today

Answer 4

N 78%
O2 21%
Argon 1%

Question 5

What changes are happening in today’s atmosphere and why.

Answer 5

CO2 is increasing due to the burning of fossil fuels, this releases carbon from dead organisms.
Deforestation means less photosynthesises happening meaning more co2
Livestock farming has lead to huge increases in methane.

Question 6

How do we know about the past atmosphere.

Answer 6

Bubbles of air are trapped inside the Antarctic ice cores, the deeper the bubbles the older the air. Scientist can examine the air and determine what is was like that many years ago

Question 7

Why is it difficult to be precise about the early atmosphere

Answer 7

No one was there at the time