NATS 1750 Chapter 20: chap 20 earths atmosphere, portrait of a planet

• School: York University
• Department: Natural Science
• Course: NATS 1750
• Professor: Ian Lumb

Document Summary

The rst atmosphere, which consisted mostly of hydrogen and helium, with traces of other gases, survived only a short period of time: addition of new gases were introduced over time, they formed the second atmosphere. These included: water, small amounts of carbon dioxide, and sulphur dioxide, nitrogen, and ammonia, methane, and carbon monoxide. Essentially, formation of carbonate minerals e ectively traps co2 in rock and keeps it out of the atmosphere: with the removal of large quantities of water and carbon dioxide, nh3, ultraviolet radiation. In addition, nitrogen was introduced (third atmosphere: with the small amount of co2 in the atmosphere, played an essential role in keeping the earth habitable. Side note: co2 is a greenhouse gas: aerosols: uid droplets or solid particles. : aerosols contain sulphuric acid, sea salt, volcanic ash, clay akes, mineral dust, soot, viruses and bacteria, specks of decayed organic material and pollen.