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How Earth's Air Changed Over Billions of Years

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suebwiwiwhwwiwn

08/07/2023

Chemistry

Chemistry - The Earth’s Atmosphere Revision Notes and Key Points

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The earth & atmosphere

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What is carbon dioxide?

How Earth's Air Changed Over Billions of Years

The evolution of Earth's atmosphere over billions of years transformed our planet from a hostile environment to one capable of sustaining complex life. This remarkable journey involved volcanic activity, the emergence of primitive life forms, and dramatic changes in atmospheric composition.

  • Initial atmosphere primarily contained carbon dioxide, water vapor, and nitrogen from volcanic emissions
  • Historical air composition through polar ice analysis reveals relatively stable conditions over the past 200 million years
  • The role of algae in oxygen production in early Earth was crucial, contributing to 90% of atmospheric oxygen
  • Carbon dioxide levels decreased through various natural processes including ocean absorption and photosynthesis
  • Modern atmosphere consists of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and small amounts of other gases
...

08/07/2023

561

THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE Evolution of the Atmosphere theories on the development of the atmosphere have altered and developed snce it happened

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The Composition of Air

The Earth's atmospheric composition has maintained remarkable stability over the past 200 million years. Modern air consists of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other gases, including argon 0.90.9% and carbon dioxide 0.040.04%. Scientists have gained valuable insights into historical atmospheric conditions through innovative research methods.

Example: Scientists analyze air bubbles trapped in polar ice cores to understand past atmospheric compositions, providing crucial data about Earth's climate history.

Vocabulary: Air composition refers to the proportional mixture of different gases that make up Earth's atmosphere.

THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE Evolution of the Atmosphere theories on the development of the atmosphere have altered and developed snce it happened

View

Production of Oxygen

The introduction of oxygen into Earth's atmosphere marked a revolutionary change in our planet's history. Primitive plants and algae, which evolved approximately 2.7 billion years ago, began performing photosynthesis, a process that consumed carbon dioxide and released oxygen as a byproduct. This biological process fundamentally altered Earth's atmosphere and paved the way for more complex life forms.

Definition: Photosynthesis is the process where plants and algae convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen using light energy and chlorophyll.

Highlight: Marine algae contribute an astounding 90% of Earth's atmospheric oxygen, highlighting their crucial role in maintaining our atmosphere.

THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE Evolution of the Atmosphere theories on the development of the atmosphere have altered and developed snce it happened

View

How Carbon Dioxide Decreased

The reduction of atmospheric carbon dioxide occurred through multiple natural processes working in concert. When early Earth cooled and water vapor condensed to form oceans, significant amounts of carbon dioxide dissolved into these water bodies, forming carbonates. The emergence of photosynthetic organisms further reduced CO2 levels, while the death and decomposition of marine organisms led to the formation of carbonate-rich sedimentary rocks.

Vocabulary: Carbonates are minerals formed when carbon dioxide dissolves in water and combines with other elements.

Highlight: The solubility of carbon dioxide in water played a crucial role in reducing atmospheric CO2 levels, demonstrating the important relationship between Earth's oceans and atmosphere.

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Subjects

Chemistry

The earth & atmosphere

What is carbon dioxide?

 

Chemistry

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561

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8 Jul 2023

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How Earth's Air Changed Over Billions of Years

user profile picture

suebwiwiwhwwiwn

@sjebwiwbwjebnw

The evolution of Earth's atmosphere over billions of yearstransformed our planet from a hostile environment to one capable of sustaining complex life. This remarkable journey involved volcanic activity, the emergence of primitive life forms, and dramatic changes in atmospheric... Show more

THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE Evolution of the Atmosphere theories on the development of the atmosphere have altered and developed snce it happened

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The Composition of Air

The Earth's atmospheric composition has maintained remarkable stability over the past 200 million years. Modern air consists of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other gases, including argon 0.90.9% and carbon dioxide 0.040.04%. Scientists have gained valuable insights into historical atmospheric conditions through innovative research methods.

Example: Scientists analyze air bubbles trapped in polar ice cores to understand past atmospheric compositions, providing crucial data about Earth's climate history.

Vocabulary: Air composition refers to the proportional mixture of different gases that make up Earth's atmosphere.

THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE Evolution of the Atmosphere theories on the development of the atmosphere have altered and developed snce it happened

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Production of Oxygen

The introduction of oxygen into Earth's atmosphere marked a revolutionary change in our planet's history. Primitive plants and algae, which evolved approximately 2.7 billion years ago, began performing photosynthesis, a process that consumed carbon dioxide and released oxygen as a byproduct. This biological process fundamentally altered Earth's atmosphere and paved the way for more complex life forms.

Definition: Photosynthesis is the process where plants and algae convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen using light energy and chlorophyll.

Highlight: Marine algae contribute an astounding 90% of Earth's atmospheric oxygen, highlighting their crucial role in maintaining our atmosphere.

THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE Evolution of the Atmosphere theories on the development of the atmosphere have altered and developed snce it happened

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How Carbon Dioxide Decreased

The reduction of atmospheric carbon dioxide occurred through multiple natural processes working in concert. When early Earth cooled and water vapor condensed to form oceans, significant amounts of carbon dioxide dissolved into these water bodies, forming carbonates. The emergence of photosynthetic organisms further reduced CO2 levels, while the death and decomposition of marine organisms led to the formation of carbonate-rich sedimentary rocks.

Vocabulary: Carbonates are minerals formed when carbon dioxide dissolves in water and combines with other elements.

Highlight: The solubility of carbon dioxide in water played a crucial role in reducing atmospheric CO2 levels, demonstrating the important relationship between Earth's oceans and atmosphere.

THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE Evolution of the Atmosphere theories on the development of the atmosphere have altered and developed snce it happened

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Evolution of the Atmosphere

The Earth's atmosphere began forming 4.6 billion years ago through a series of geological processes. Initially, Earth's surface was completely molten, but as it cooled, volcanic activity became the primary source of atmospheric gases. These volcanic eruptions released carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrogen, and hydrogen into the primitive atmosphere. Earth's gravitational pull prevented these gases from escaping into space, while cooling conditions eventually led to the condensation of water vapor, forming the planet's first oceans.

Definition: The early atmosphere was predominantly composed of carbon dioxide and water vapor, fundamentally different from our current atmosphere.

Highlight: The transformation from a molten Earth to one with a stable atmosphere and oceans was a crucial step in making our planet habitable.

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This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

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Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

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Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

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Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

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This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

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Sudenaz Ocak

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Greenlight Bonnie

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very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

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I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

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This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

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