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Earth’s Atmosphere

Learn about the composition of Earth's dry and wet air, the origin of our atmosphere, and the transition from a poisonous atmosphere to our current one, including the role of plants in producing oxygen.

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Earth’s Atmosphere

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  1. Earth’s Atmosphere Composition And Origin

  2. Composition(Dry Air) Nitrogen (N₂) 78.08% Oxygen (O₂) 20.95% Argon (Ar) .93% Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) .03% Trace amounts of: Neon, Helium, Ozone, Krypton, Hydrogen, Methane, Carbon Monoxide, and others. (Wet Air) Amount of Water Vapor varies: .1 – 3.0 %

  3. Origin of Earth’s Atmosphere There are two scientific theories as to how the Earth got its atmosphere:

  4. 1. Outgassing Gases trapped in the solid Earth were released during volcanic events and asteroid impacts

  5. 2. Comets Comets impacted the Earth leaving the atmosphere behind (Especially H₂O)

  6. The Original Atmosphere The early atmosphere, Due to the volcanic outgassing was poisonous containing large amounts of Methane (CH₄), Ammonia (NH₃)

  7. Transition to our Current Atmosphere As there was no ozone layer yet… Ultraviolet Sunlight broke down the methane and ammonia into Nitrogen, Carbon and Hydrogen. • The Hydrogen rose to the top of the atmosphere and escaped into space • The Carbon remained, some being incorporated into living things • The Nitrogen remained in the Air

  8. So where did the oxygen in our air come from? 1. Plants release Oxygen from H₂O and CO₂ during photosynthesis

  9. 2. UV Sunlight also broke down H₂O into Hydrogen and Oxygen Again the hydrogen mostly escaped into space leaving Oxygen behind. Plants and UV light probably worked together to produce our ‘free’ oxygen

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