Geologic Time Line

http://www.scientificpsychic.com/etc/timeline/timeline.html
MYA
(Millions of Years Ago)

Event Description Formation of the Solar System Sun was only 70% as bright as today. Earth day is 7 hours long Earths original hydrogen and helium atmosphere escapes Earths gravity Earth's atmosphere becomes mostly carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, and ammonia. Surface of the Earth changed from molten to solid rock. Water started condensing in liquid form. Earth day is 15 hours long First known oxygen-producing bacteria form stromatolites Stable continents appear First free oxygen is found in the oceans and atmosphere. Great Oxidation Event creating banded iron formations Complex single-celled life appeared. Oxygen starts accumulating in the atmosphere. Formation of ozone layer starts blocking ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Earth day is 18 hours long. Mass extinction of 70% of dominant sea plants First vertebrates appear in the ocean First green plants and fungi on land. Mass extinction, 2nd largest 49% of all existing species lost Coral reefs appear First fish with jaws sharks Earth day is ~21.8 hours long. Wingless insects appeared on land First amphibians appear Mass extinction of 70% of dominant sea plants Vertebrates appear on land First reptiles Deposits of coal form in Europe in Asia and North America Formation of the supercontinent Pangea Earth's worst mass extinction eliminated 90% of ocean

4567 MYA 4450 MYA 3600 MYA 3850 MYA

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3800 MYA 3800 MYA 3800 MYA 3500 MYA 2500 MYA 2500 MYA 2500 MYA 1800 MYA, 1900 MYA 1550 MYA 900 MYA 650 MYA 480 MYA 488 MYA 443 MYA 418 MYA 417 MYA 400 MYA 380 MYA 374.5 MYA 374 MYA 330 MYA 310 MYA 300 MYA 275 MYA 251 MYA

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251 MYA 250 MYA 180 MYA 125 MYA 105 MYA 105MYA 65 MYA 61 MYA 50 MYA 45 MYA 40 MYA 33.9 MYA 6 MYA 160,000 ya/0.16 MYA 11,000 ya 10,000 ya 250 ya

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dwellers, and 70% of land plants and animals. Breakup of Pangaea Age of dinosaurs North America separates from Africa Africa and India separate from Antarctica South America breaks away from Africa Modern mammals and birds develop Mass Extinction of 80-90% of marine species and 85% of land species, including the dinosaurs. Flowering plants become widespread India meets Asia forming the Himalayas Earth day is 24 hours Camels, early horses, rhinoceros appear Appearance of many grasses Upright walking hominins appear Homo sapiens appear Development of agriculture Domestication of animals Start of the industrial revolution

1. What is the trend for the length of day on Earth? 7 hours, then 15, then 18, then ~21.8 hours, and then 24 hours long.

2. What would you expect the length of the day in the future? Maybe 30 Hours or so.

3. Are the continents stationary? What about the seafloor? The continents are not stationary for they have been moving around for millions of years and the seafloor is not either.

4. What allowed plants, then insects and reptiles to move onto the land, why was life first found the oceans? What allowed plan insects and reptiles to move onto land was the oxygen filled atmosphere that had formed. Life was first found in the ocean because it was the safest place, away from UV rays, radiation, where its not too cold and not too hot.

5. Why was the surface of the Earth molten early in Earths history?

Earths surface was molten early in history because of the high amount of heat coming from its inner core, melting the rocky surface.

6. Describe what Pangaea was?

Pangaea was a single supercontinent made up of all the continents we see today; it existed during the Paleozoic and the Mesozoic eras about 250 MYA.

7. How long have sharks been in the oceans?

Sharks have been in the ocean for 417 million years.

Timeline Questions with 24 Hour Clock

Discuss the timing Of 3 Events that surprised you. 1. 2. 3. Why did life (Plants and Animals) move onto after life had started in the oceans? What was the key Event or Requirement that Allowed Life to move onto land? Sharks Have Been Swimming in the Ocean for a long time what time on the 24 hour clock? 2 Hours What formed as North America & South America moved away from Africa? What time did this happen on the 24 Hour Clock