Atmosphere

• Evolution of atmosphere


  Start - dry w intense volcanic activity = lots of N, CO2 and water vapour

  water condenses to for oceans when lots of CO2 dissolves forming sediments

  then algae and plants appear + start to photosynthesis = oxygen increase + CO2 decline

  new life form can now live
• Todays atmosphere


  80% nitrogen

  20% oxygen

  1% carbon dioxide and other gases
• Global warming 


  Caused be the green house effect due to green house gases
• Increase greenhouse gases


  Carbon dioxide : deforestation and burning fossil fuels

  methane : farm animals mass farmed and waste decomposing in landfills
• climate change 


  Impact of global worming on climate (long term weather pattern)
• Impacts on climate


  Droughts floods and storms will be more common and severe

  sea levels rise due to melting ice caps and water expands as its heated
• General impact on climate

  Species no longer adapted to their habitat = need to migrate or adapt but some go extinct

  rainfall patterns change
• carbon footprints 


  total amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gases emitted over something’s entire lifecycle
• Benefits of working out carbon footprint

  Can see how damaging things are and see if they are worth it

  Identify most polluting activities and reduce their emissions
• Measuring carbon emissions


  Very difficult sometimes impossible

  have to take into account:

  how materials sourced

  manufacturing

  total use in its lifetime

  how its disposed of

  emissions of transporting parts
• Reducing emission


  Use renewable energy e.g wind solar etc

  more efficient manufacturing to use less energy and make less waste

  less waste = less methane

  governments introduce laws + tax one emissions

  carbon capture tech stops and stored carbon instead of in environment
• difficulties of reducing emission

  Renewable energy is more expensive and cant be sourced everywhere

  lots of industries rely on lots of energy from fossil fuels so hard to change

  government worry whole economy will suffer if prioritise environment
• Air pollution


  Burning fossil fuels with not enough oxygen = incomplete combustion

  releases carbon monoxide and particulates
• Particulates


  Solid carbon particles (soot)

  small and enter respiratory system leading to issues + produce smog so less light reaches earth = global dimming
• Carbon monoxide


  Dangerous as it diffuses into our blood so haemoglobin transports less oxygen

  can result in fainting comas and death if brain deprived of oxygen too much

  colourless and Odourless
• sulfur dioxide 


  If hydrocarbons have impurities like sulfur when burned it makes sulfur dioxide
• Nitrogen oxides


  When nitrogen and oxygen in air react together

  doesn’t happen normally

  but really high temp in car engines can cause it
• Sulfur dioxide & nitrogen oxides

  Both enter lungs and damage them causing health issues

  Both if enter clouds dissolve and form dilute nitric and sulfuric acid = acid rain that damages buildings and plants