Earth Sciences 2240F/G Chapter Notes - Chapter 13: Calcium Silicate, Seafloor Spreading, Weathering
13 Feb 2018
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Section a: processes: the search for icehouse greenhouse control. Icehouse: times when ice sheets are present on continents (i. e. usa today) Greenhouse: times when continental ice sheets are absent. Sun"s energy has increased by 25-30% since earth first took form. 2. 0 a partial carbon cycle: rocks and the atmosphere an abundance of liquid water. Present-day atmosphere 390 ppm (parts/million) for co2. Largest amount of co2 into the atmosphere is from the emissions from volcanoes and from hot springs. Mildly acidic rain will break down any rock containing calcium: calcium ion stays dissolved in water and eventually combines with co2 dissolved in water to form calcium carbonate (caco3) Co2 in the atmosphere combines with rain water to make carbonic acid: rain water is naturally slightly acidic. Co2 content of the atmosphere is reduced by such reactions b/c the carbon becomes stored in the shells which eventually become rocks. Carbon is removed from the atmosphere for a long time.
