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C.9 Chemistry of the Atmosphere - Coggle Diagram
C.9 Chemistry of the Atmosphere
Early Atmosphere
Scientists are mainly going off findings as this happened billions of years ago we have no solid evidence to provide a definate claim
Its stated that the Earth is 4.6 billion years ago.
Scientists believe that like Mars the atmosphere contained large amounts of Carbon Dioxide
All evidence put forward by scientists is peer-reviewd so no misinformation is spread
Volcanic activity was responsible for shaping the early environment
The main gases released from these volcanoes were - Carbon Dioxide, Water Vapour, Methane, Oxygen, Nitrogen
How it changed
The atmosphere of Earth has remained quite constant over the last million odd years
78% - Nitrogen
21% - Oxygen
1% - Other Gases (Methane, Argon)
The Earth getting cooler lead to the oceans forming from the water vapour in the Earth condensing
The carbon dioxide dissolved into the oceans formining sediments
Increase in Oxygen
Green plants and Algea began to form from the oceans
They used photosynthesis to take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen
As more and more complex organisms began to evolve they used sediments from the sea to form their skeletons - reducing carbon dioxide concentratio
Nitrogen is still increasing which is why its such a high % now because its a stable molecule.
Greenhouse Gases
Greenhouse gases are part of this effect known as the
"Greenhouse Gas Effect"
Methane, Water Vapour, Carbon Dioxide and Nitrogen
Once the sun emits rays, two things happen the long
er
wavelengths of light are absorbed at the Earths surface whereas the short
er
wavelengths of light are reflected back these are absorbed and then re-emitted by gases in the atmosphere they keep the heat in the Earths atmosphere for much longer.
This relates to an increase in the Earths temperature - Global Warming
Climate change
Climate change is the direct consequence of Global warming
Ice caps melting
Irregular rainfall patterns
More scarcity of food/water
More severe natural disasters - Earthquakes
Sea levels rising - seasonal flooding
Increase in Greenhouse Gases
Certain human activities increase the emmission of greenhouse gases
Deforestation
Burning Fossil Fuels
Increase in cattle
Decomposition of Landfill sites
Carbon Footprint
Carbon footprint is a measurement of how much carbon dioxide is emmited from an object,service or event
"The amount of carbon dioxide and methane that is released into the atmosphere by a product, person, or process is called its carbon footprint."
Many developing countries are scared to change in fear of economic growth being stunted as well as having to change their entire lifestyle
As well as this many scientists disagree on their findings making any advancements or solutions hard
Solutions
Using carbon capture which captures any carbon dioxide before its released, its then stored underground
Using renewable energy sources - Nuclear, Hydroelectric
Carbon Offsetting - Planting trees to reverse the carbon emmissions
Using carbon - neutral products which do not add to the carbon conencentration
Governments can help as well
Putting caps on emmissions for Greenhouse Gases
Making laws involving importing and exporting products which produce greenhouse gases more stringent
Increasing tax on companies which exceed their cap for greenhouse emmission
Pollutants
Sulfur Dioxide - sulfur impurities in the fuel reacting with
oxygen from the air. This causes acid rain, which affects plants and insects as well as causes errosion.
Particulates (soot) - incomplete combustion of fuels especially in diesel engines. It can cause global dimming which is essentially when a cloud forms reflecting the light back to the sun
Nitrogen Oxides - nitrogen from the air being heated near. It causes acid rain and respiratory problems
Carbon Monoxide - Produced in incomplete combustion, harmful as it prevents the maximum amount of oxygen in the body