Chemistry of the atmosphere

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  • Created by: leo1223
  • Created on: 09-06-18 11:17
What was the condition of the earth's atmosphere 4 billion years ago?
The earth's atmosphere was mainly made of carbon dioxide and a small percentage of other gases
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What was the condition of the earth's atmosphere 3 billion years ago?
The earth's atmosphere then began to decrease in carbon dioxide and increase in oxygen and nitrogen
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What was the condition of the earth's atmosphere 2 billion years ago?
The earth's atmosphere now consisted largely of carbon dioxide and nitrogen with a small section of oxygen in the atmosphere
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What was the condition of the earth's atmosphere 1 billion years ago?
The earth's atmosphere began to decrease in carbon dioxide and increase in nitrogen and oxygen
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What is the condition of the earth's atmosphere now?
The earth's atmosphere is now consists of roughly 80% nitrogen and 20% oxygen
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What key factors and events that occured4-3 billion years ago changed the earth's atmosphere significantly?
Intense volcanic activity caused the release of carbon dioxide, water vapour (which later condensed to form oceans) and small proportions of methane and ammonia. At this time the atmosphere was largely made up of carbon dioxide
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What key factors and events that occurred 3-1 billion years ago changed the earth's atmosphere significantly?
Green plants and algae evolve; carbon dioxide levels reduce as plants photosynthesise, which also increases oxygen levels, nitrogen is produce by bacteria removing nitrates from decaying plant material, carbon becomes locked up in sedimentary rocks
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How has the reaction between carbon dioxide and sea water reduced the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
The reaction between carbon dioxide and sea water produces soluble hydrogen carbonates and insoluble carbonates that are deposited as sediment, both trap carbon is the ocean, reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
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How does the formation of sedimentary rocks and fossil fuels affect the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
When carbon becomes locked up in sedimentary rocks (limestone) and fossil fuels as the carbon is trapped and cannot re-enter the atmosphere to form carbon dioxide, instead the carbon forms carbonates which form shells and skeletons and fossil fuels
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Explain the process of how greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation?
High energy, short wavelength infrared radiation from the Sun passes through the atmosphere, some of this radiation is absorbed, lower energy, longer wavelength radiation is reflected by surface. Greenhouse gases absorb this outgoing radiation
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Explain why greenhouse gases are important for life on earth?
As green house gases absorb outgoing radiation leaving the earth, this extra radiation increase the earth's temperature. Without this effect, the earth would be too cold for water to be a liquid and therefore would not be able to support life
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Name 3 different greenhouse gases
Carbon dioxide, methane and water vapour
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What has happened to the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in the last 100 years?
The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased over the last 100 years
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What is the correlation between the increase in carbon dioxide and the increase in the amount of fossils fuels being burned?
The carbon dioxide increase over the last 100 years directly correlates with the increase in the burning of fossil fuels
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How can deforestation cause carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere to increase?
Deforestation removes large numbers of trees which decreases the amount of trees taking in carbon dioxide by photosynthesis
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What activities increase the amount of methane in the atmosphere?
The decomposition of rubbish in landfill sites and the increase in animal farming as it is produced by animals during digestion and the decomposition of their waste materials
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What would be affected if the global temperature was increased?
Sea levels would rise, more frequent and serve storms, changes in the amount and timing of rainfall, increased number of heatwave events and droughts, changes to distribution of plants and animals and food shortages
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What is meant by "carbon footprint"?
The carbon footprint of a product, service or event is the total amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that are emitted over its full life cycle
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How can the carbon footprint be reduced?
Using alternative energy e.g. solar power, more efficient energy use, carbon capture and storage, carbon off-setting, through the activity of tree planting, carbon taxes and licenses and encouragement of carbon-netural products
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What are some common problems with the carbon footprint?
Disagreement between scientists over the causes and consequences of global climate change, lack of knowledge in the general population, economic considerations such as high costs to producer solar power and disagreement between coutries
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What is carbon off-setting?
Carbon off-setting is where enough trees are planted to balance out the carbon dioxide being produced by the manufacturing processes/product use
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What was the condition of the earth's atmosphere 3 billion years ago?

Back

The earth's atmosphere then began to decrease in carbon dioxide and increase in oxygen and nitrogen

Card 3

Front

What was the condition of the earth's atmosphere 2 billion years ago?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What was the condition of the earth's atmosphere 1 billion years ago?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What is the condition of the earth's atmosphere now?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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