T11 YR11 Flashcards
(21 cards)
What is theory 1 of the formation of our early atmosphere?
Ga bubbles found trapped in ancient rocks which released carbon dioxide, water, nitrogen forming the earths early atmosphere
What is theory 2 of the formation of our early atmosphere?
Water came from icy comets that collided with earth
What were the 5 compositions of earth’s early atmosphere?
CO2, H2O, N2, CH4, NH3
What increased CO2 and O2 and overall evolution of life?
Algae carrying out photosynthesis
What is our atmosphere made up of today?
78 - N2
21 - O2
0.04 - CO2
0.9 - Ar
Where is carbon stored, what is the key word?
Carbon is LOCKED into rocks and fossil fuels
Where did the early atmosphere go?
Bones and shells
Fossil fuels
Oil and gas
Ocean absorption
Where does short and long wave radiation occur?
Greenhouse gases - short wave given off from sun and long wave radiation is the earth giving off heat (infrared radiation)
What happens to infrared radiation?
Gets trapped - heats up layers of CO2 and CH4 where the combustion of fossil fuels increases the CO2 levels due to the carbon being released from being locked away
What can increase CO2 levels?
Deforestation
Draining of wetlands
Oceans rising
How is methane given off?
Swamps
Rice paddies
Decomposing human and food waste
Thawing permafrost
Give examples on how methane levels is increased?
Increasing population
Give specific consequences of climate change?
Changing season length
Rising sea levels
Extreme weather
Changes in temperature
Distribution of wildlife
How can we fix climate change?
Reducing carbon footprint
Define carbon footprint?
Total amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gases emitted over its full life cycle
What are alternatives to reduce carbon footprint?
Biofuels
Solar
Wind
Plant trees
Carbon taxes
What are the 4 atmospheric pollutants?
Sulfur dioxide
Carbon
Nitrogen oxides
Particulates
Impacts and solutions to sulfur dioxide?
Acidic gas reacting with water to form acid rain which damages trees affecting photosynthesis - Removal of sulfur before it is burned
Impacts and solutions to carbon?
Incomplete combustion causes CO2 to transfer to CO being a toxic harmful gas when burned - Don’t burn fossil fuels
Impacts and solutions to nitrogen oxides?
Reacts with oxygen in high temps and then water to form acid rain also creating SMOG - Don’t burn fossil fuels and use electric cars
Impacts and solutions to particulates?
Cite of carbon what are from us burnt hydrocarbons that cause global dimming blocking out sunlight and also damaging lung cells - Don’t burn fossil fuels
