c13 earth's atmosphere

• earths atmosphere today

  • nitrogen 80%
  • oxygen 20%
  • carbon dioxide and noble gases >1%
• when oceans formed carbon dioxide dissolved in the water
• the carbonates precipitates and produced sediments reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
• todays atmosphere contains 0.04% carbon dioxide
• original atmosphere

  • carbon dioxide 96%
  • oxygen 0%
• greenhouse gases

  1. methane
  2. carbon dioxide
  3. water
• greenhouse effect

  1. the sun sends out short-wavelength radiation (heat energy) which warms the Earth
  2. as the Earth warms it sends back long-wavelength radiation
  3. the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere adsorb the long-wavelength radiation
  4. the atmosphere then gets hotter and this causes global warming
• causes of carbon dioxide

  • combustion of fossil fuels for electricity/cars
  • deforestation for farming/housing
• causes of methane

  • cattle farming - animals produce methane
  • landfill - bacteria produce methane
• carbon footprint 


  the total amount of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases emitted over it's life cycle
• social effects of global warming

  • more heat waves cause health problems
  • farmers have to grow different crops
  • more people at risk of malaria
  • people are displaced as homes are flooded
• environmental effects of global warming

  • increase in average air temperatures
  • changing eco-systems
  • increase sea-level
  • sea water temperature rising
  • ice caps melting
• economic effects of global warming

  • increased food prices as farming has to adapt
  • insurance increased
  • money is needed for flood protection
• carbon capture and storage

  capturing carbon dioxide produced in power stations and storing it in rocks
• combustion


  a rapid reaction between fuel and oxygen that releases heat and light energy (burning)
• atmospheric pollutants

  • carbon monoxide
  • particulates (soot)
• global dimming


  the gradual reduction in radiation energy which reaches the Earth's surface from the sun due to small particles in the atmosphere which have been produced by human activities
• acid rain


  the pH level of rain water is reduced by sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides making it acidic
• cause of acid rain

  • fossil fuels containing sulphur being burnt
  • car exhausts giving out nitrogen dioxide that dissolves in rain
• effects of acid rain

  • trees are damaged
  • makes lakes acidic killing fish
  • reacts with materials in buildings weakening them
• solution to acid rain

  • burn fossil fuels that don't contain sulphur
  • reduce need to burn fossil fuels
  • carpool/walk places