The Evolution of the Atmosphere
- Created by: Alise015
- Created on: 04-05-16 22:33
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- The Evolution of the Atmosphere
- Phase 1
- Volcanoes gave out gases.
- Volcanoes gave out a lot of gas - Carbon dioxide, water vapour and a little bit of other gases.
- The oceans formed when the water vapour condensed.
- The early atmosphere was most likely mostly Carbon Dioxide, with almost no oxygen
- We can assume that that is what the atmospheres of Mars and Venus are today.
- At first the earth's surface was molten for millions of years, any atmosphere just 'boiled away'
- however later everything slightly cooled down, and a thin crust was formed. Although volcanoes were still erupting.
- Phase 2
- A lot of the early Carbon Dioxide dissolved into the oceans
- Marine organisms developed, which took some of CO2.
- When they died the organisms were buried under layers of sediment, and the CO2 was left in the carbonate rocks
- Marine organisms developed, which took some of CO2.
- Green plants evolved over most of the Earth.
- They took in Carbon dioxide and let out Oxygen, which caused the oxygen levels to increase.
- A lot of the early Carbon Dioxide dissolved into the oceans
- Phase 3
- The oxygen build up, killed off a few organisms, that couldn't tolerate the oxygen
- This allowed more complex organisms to be made
- Oxygen also, created the ozone layer, which protects us from the harmful rays of the sun.
- Allowed even more complex organisms to be created - eventually - us.
- Very little amount of Carbon Dioxide is left in the atmosphere
- Todays atmosphere consists of ; 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, 1% Argon, 0.04% Carbon Dioxide, and the rest is other gases.
- The oxygen build up, killed off a few organisms, that couldn't tolerate the oxygen
- Phase 1
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