Chemistry of the Atmosphere

Question 1

Describe Earth’s Early Atmosphere

Answer 1

1st Billion years=Intense volcanic activity
>Produced a lot of CO2,Nitrogen and Water Vapour
>Smaller amounts=Methane and Ammonia

Question 2

How did the early oceans form?

Answer 2

> Water vapour condensed, forming oceans
which allowed CO2 to dissolve.

Question 3

Where and How did the first life emerge?

Answer 3

2.7 Billion years ago:
.Algae began to appear over the next billion years plant evolved.

Question 4

How did CO2 decrease overtime?

Answer 4

> Algae and plants decreased % of CO2 through photosynthesis.
Also decreased by the formation of sedimentary rocks and fossil fuels.

Question 5

What are % of gases in the Atmosphere rn?

Answer 5

Nitrogen=80%
Oxygen=20%
Small proportion of other gases.

Question 6

Name the greenhouse gases?

Answer 6

Methane, Water vapour, Carbon Dioxide

Question 7

Describe the greenhouse effect?

Answer 7

> The greenhouse gases act as an insulating layer.
They absorb long wavelength radiation but not short wavelength.
then they radiate it in all directions, including back to Earth

> Long wavelength=thermal, resulting in the warming of the Earth.

Question 8

Examples of Human activities contributing to Global Warming mf?

Answer 8

Deforestation
Burning Fossil Fuels
Agriculture
Creating Waste

Question 9

Why is evidence for climate change reliable?

Answer 9

> It has been peer reviewed.

Question 10

Why is it difficult to make a climate change model?

Answer 10

> Very hard to make a model that isn’t oversimplified.

Question 11

What are the consequences of Climate Change?

Answer 11

> Polar ice caps melting=rising sea levels
Changes in rainfall patterns
Frequency and severity of storms
Change in temperature.

Question 12

What is a carbon footprint?

Answer 12

> The measure of the amount of CO2 released over the full life cycle.

Question 13

What are ways to reduce carbon fotprint?

Answer 13

> Renewable Energy Resources
Efficient processes
Government could tax companies
technology which capture CO2

Question 14

What are problems of solutions?

Answer 14

> Lot of work need to be done on alternative tech
Governments worries that reducing carbon emission could impact economic growth
There isn’t enough education to warn people.

Question 15

Problem with air particulates?

Answer 15

> If inhaled, can get stuck into the lungs and causes damage.
They also reflect sunlight.

Question 16

Problem with CO?

Answer 16

> Really dangerous, it can stop your blood from carrying oxygen
It is colourless and odourless making it hard to detect.

Question 17

Problem with Sulphur dioxide?

Answer 17

> Released during combustion, which forms acid rain that kills plants and damages buildings.

Question 18

Problems with Nitrogen oxides?

Answer 18

> Forms reaction between Nitrogen and Oxygen, which cause respiratory problems.