120. Atmospheric Changes Over Time Notes
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The document describes the major changes in Earth's atmosphere over time from 4.6 billion years ago to the present. Initially, the atmosphere was dominated by volcanic emissions of gases like carbon dioxide and water vapor. As the planet cooled over billions of years, oceans formed and early life emerged that began processing carbon and sulfur compounds. Around 2.2 billion years ago, photosynthetic organisms produced enough oxygen that it accumulated in the atmosphere, in an event known as the Great Oxygenation Event. The coevolution of life and atmospheric composition led to increasingly complex organisms on Earth.
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120. Atmospheric Changes Over Time Notes
- 1. Notes: Summarize: Five lines to write on Width ~ 3 Fingers Key Words and Questions: Atmospheric Changes Over Time
- 2. Primeval Atmosphere • 4.6-4.0 Billion Years Ago • Earth was dominated by volcanoes so the atmosphere was full of volcanic emissions (water vapor, CO2, sulfur compounds)
- 3. Cooling Period • 4.0 Billion Years Ago • Earth’s surface cooled allowing water vapor to condense forming the oceans
- 4. Early Life • 4.0-2.5 Billion Years Ago • Primitive life arises which begin to process the carbon and sulfur compounds
- 5. Great Oxygenation Event • 2.2 Billion Years Ago • Photosynthetic organisms began to produce enough oxygen for it to be released into the atmosphere and build up
- 6. Coevolution • The slow evolution of organisms over time due to abiotic (non-living) or biotic (living) factors • Ex: the rise in oxygen levels allowed for larger and more complex life on Earth