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The Formation of the Earth's Atmosphere - Coggle Diagram
The Formation of the Earth's Atmosphere
The Early Atmosphere
The main gases present in the early atmosphere were carbon dioxide and water vapour.
There was very little nitrogen or oxygen
The early Earth was covered with volcanoes and lava, a hostile environment
We cannot be certain of these facts, we have no evidence
The volcanoes released carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Today's atmosphere
Today's atmosphere consists of 21% oxygen, 80% nitrogen and 1% other gases including carbon dioxide.
It has habitable conditions for life.
There is a decrease in carbon dioxide and water vapour, and an increase in oxygen and nitrogen
Why did the atmosphere change?
The change in the atmosphere is mainly due to the cooling of the earth
Decrease in water vapour
Less volcanic activity => Earth cooled => water vapour cooled to water and formed oceans
Decrease in carbon dioxide
Oceans formed => Carbon dioxide dissolved into the oceans => carbon dioxide got locked in carbonate shells
Increase in oxygen
Plants, algae and bacteria carried out photosynthesis
Increase in nitrogen
Volcanoes also release nitrogen => Nitrogen kept building up, it didn't react as it is unreactive