Evolution of the Atmosphere Flashcards
All 7 cards in this deck
What produced the gases that formed the Earth's early atmosphere?
Volcanic activity (volcanic emissions).
What happened to the water vapour in the Earth's early atmosphere?
The Earth cooled, so the water vapour condensed and fell as rain, forming the oceans and seas.
True or false? Carbon dioxide dissolving in the newly formed oceans increased the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
False. Carbon dioxide dissolving in the oceans decreased it; volcanic emissions increase it.
What caused the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere to increase after the early atmosphere formed?
Plants grew and evolved, and photosynthesis occurred.
What is the chemical test for oxygen?
A glowing splint relights in oxygen.
Which gas did the Earth's early atmosphere contain a large amount of, but is only a small part of today's atmosphere?
Carbon dioxide ().
How much oxygen is the Earth's early atmosphere thought to have contained?
Little or no oxygen.