Gases in the Earth's atmosphere today :
Nitrogen - 78%
Oxygen - 21%
Argon - 0.9%
Carbon Dioxide - 0.04%
other gases - traces
[there is also water vapour but that changes too much from day to day so it is not included]
Oxygen - 21%
Argon - 0.9%
Carbon Dioxide - 0.04%
other gases - traces
[there is also water vapour but that changes too much from day to day so it is not included]
Some of the other 1% gases are unreactive noble gases, mainly argon. A small amount of CO2 is found aswell (0.04%). There are also trace amounts of other gases such as Carbon Monoxide, Methane, Nitrogen Oxides, Sulfur Dioxide.
The amounts of gases in the atmosphere may vary. For example -natural causes: volcanoes can release alot of sulfur dioxide and lightning can produce nitrogen oxides.
Human activity can also change the amount of certain gases in the atmosphere.
- Deforestation means fewer trees to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by photosynthesis
- Burning fossil fuels increases the amount of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere
- Engines and furnaces can release nitrogen oxide
- Cattle and rice fields release large quantities of methane
Nitrogen is the main gas in the atmosphere today. There are different theories to where it came from
1) Volcanoes released nitrogen when the earth was young which means the atmosphere has always contained a lot of nitrogen
2) Nitrogen was added to the atmosphere gradually due to the reactions of nitrogen-containing compounds released from volcanoes.
Key Words:
Noble Gases
Trace
Deforestation
Questions:
1.Give two examples of human activity that could increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
2. List the thee main gases in the air, order of abundance
3. How does deforestation increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the air?
What you should know:
- 1.8 Be able to describe the current composition of the atmosphere and interpret data sources showing this information.
- 1.9 Be able to demonstrate an understanding of how small changes in the atmosphere occur through:
- a) volcanic activity
- b) human activity, including the burning of fossil fuels, farming and deforestation
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