Nitrogen: 78%

Composition of our Oxygen: 21%

atmosphere Argon: 0.9%
Carbon dioxide: 0.04%

Composition of our
Hydrogen, Helium
earliest atmosphere

How did our earliest gases so light they go to

atmosphere go? space

CO2, ammonia, methane,

Composition of our early
water vapour
atmosphere
No oxygen, nitrogen

Volcanic eruptions (gases

How did our early
expelled are normally
atmosphere form?
CO2 and water vapour)
 How did our oceans Earth cooled, water
form? vapour condensed, rain

- dissolved in water (oceans)

- reacts with calcium to
How did CO2 levels
produce limestone/chalk
decrease?
- photosynthesis
- fossil fuels (marine, plants)

How did O2 levels

- photosynthesis
increase?

How did ammonia levels ammonia + oxygen =

decrease? nitrogen + water

How did nitrogen levels ammonia decomposed on

increase? reaction with oxygen
How did methane levels methane + oxygen =
decrease? carbon dioxide + water

What are greenhouses gases that contribute to

gases? the greenhouse effect

carbon dioxide, methane,

Examples of greenhouse
water vapour, CFCs,
gases
nitrous oxide

Why do we need the keeps Earth warm to

greenhouse effect? support life

Short wavelength (UV) radiation passes

through the atmosphere to warm the
How does the earth, long wavelength (Infrared)
greenhouse effect work? radiation is absorbed by greenhouse
gases and reemitted or lost, this
increases atmospheric temperature
 an enhanced greenhouse
What is global warming?
effect

extra GHGs released by

human activity are trapping
Why is there global
more Infrared radiation
warming?
causing gradual temperature
increase

sunspot activity (natural

Suggested theory of
cycle as Earth has been
global warming
through periods of
(incorrect)
varying climate)

- combustion/burning
How do we increase CO2
fossil fuels
levels?
- deforestation

- decomposition
Why is methane - stomach+rice
increasing? fermentation
- excretion
 Why is there carbon incomplete combustion
monoxide? (insufficient oxygen)

Consequences of carbon binds with haemoglobin

monoxide? so oxygen cannot

Natural pH of rain 5

- sulfur dioxide (volcanoes, sulfur

impurities)
- nitrous oxide (combustion engine in N2
Causes of acid rain and O2)
- carbon dioxide (fossil fuels, natural etc)
non-metal oxides dissolved in water
- decaying plants (dimethylsulfide)

- lowers lake pH (aquatic life)

- corrosion of metal (bridges)
Consequences of acid - damage limestone structures (building
and statue)
rain - damage wildlife (aquatic, land, veg, soil)
- asthma
- coral reefs (calcium compounds)
 - bases/limestone (water/soil)
- coat metal
- scrubbing (calcium oxide chimneys to
Solutions to acid rain solid)
- catalytic converter exhaust (NO+CO)
- alternate energies/not combustion
energy

acid and base react to

Why are bases/limestone
neutralise
used to remove acid rain?
acid compound solid

- basic compounds (water/soil)

- coat bridges
Solutions to acid - scrubbing (calcium oxide chimney)
rain/sulfur dioxide - hydrogen cars
- catalytic converter exhaust
(CO+NO

Why are bases used to reacts with base to

remove sulfur dioxide? produce solid/neutralised

- sulfur impurities in fossil

Why is there sulfur
fuels
dioxide?
- volcanic eruptions
 - nitrogen and oxygen in
Why is there nitrous air react in combustion
oxides? (NOx) engines (temp + pressure)
- fertilisers

sulfuric acid and water cause acid rain

(2-4 pH)
Consequences of sulfur - lowers lake pH (aquatic life)
- corrosion of metal
dioxide? - damage limestone structures
- damage wildlife (aquatic, land, veg)
- asthma

- smog
Consequences of nitrous
- bronchitis
oxides?
- acid rain

Why are there

particulates - burning fossil fuels
(smoke/soot)?

- asthma
Consequences of
- reduce visibility
particulates?
- ruin buildings
 - increased temperatures
- extreme weather (flood/drought)
- ice caps melt
Consequences of global - sea level increase (water warms+expands)
warming - biodiversity (coral reef
damage/extinction/migration
change/species distribution)
- resource scarcity/food production

- alternative energy
- conserve energy
How can we reverse/slow
- carbon capture + storage
global warming
- carbon off-setting (plant
trees)

- oxygen decreases
- carbon dioxide increases
How does combustion - nitrous oxide may be produced
affect air composition? - sulfur dioxide may be produced
- carbon monoxide may be
produced

- oxygen decreases
How does respiration
- carbon dioxide (+water)
affect air composition?
increases

- oxygen increases
How does photosynthesis
- carbon dioxide
affect air composition?
decreases