Banded Iron Formation
1. Describe Earth’s early atmosphere.
The atmosphere was carbon dioxide with barle an oxygen. But as the Earth became colder, most of the water formed the oceans.
2. What microorganism is credited with the accumulation of free oxygen in the atmosphere?
Bacteria
3. Describe Earth’s early oceans.
Earth is a perfect distance from the sun so the temperature of the Earth is the right tempeture for water.
4. What is a BIF? How do BIFs form?
Oxygen combines with iron that was dissolved in the oceans to form ironoxides.
5. Why did it take so long for free oxygen to accumulate in the atmosphere and in the oceans?
The oxygen just kept getting dissolved by water.
6. Most BIFs precipitated between 2.5 and 2 billion years ago. What
Describe the important chemistry of early earth and how this may have given rise to life forms.
6. The atmosphere of early earth primarily may have consisted of a reducing atmosphere thick with water vapor, along with nitrogen and its oxides, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, hydrogen, and hydrogen sulfide.
The oxygen revolution: During the Proterozoic, biotic system were being established, which gave rise to biomass of the prokaryotic organisms like the “benthic and planktonic photosynthesizing organisms” Due to the vast developing diversity of environment, organisms could well adapt to these various environments, which increased the input of oxygen on Earth. Hence, in order for the oxygen to be accumulated in the atmosphere, Iron and Sulfur like oxygen-sinks had to be depleted.
In general, people think that the largest amount of fresh water is stored in ice caps but this is false. Fishman explains that most of the water on Earth exists in a fourth form, not ice, liquid, or vapor, but it exists as molecular water. This abundance of water is locked in the rock of the Earth’s mantle, about 255 miles deep. Unfortunately, this water is almost totally inaccessible to the people on Earth. Steven Jacobsen, a geophysicist at Northwestern University, explains to Fishman that the water in the rocks is not like the water that comes out of the tap. Jacobsen says, “If you release the pressure and temperature, the hydrogen and the OH come out as water” (Fishman, pg 34). However, the amount of pressure and technology needed to
fresh water found on planet earth is only a mere one percent (1%) and we have to bear in mind that within that one percent some are found in lakes, rivers, streams and underground aquifers.
The water cycle of the Earth is in constant balance, evaporating water from the oceans and other bodies of water, and depositing it on land through snowfall and rainfall, before ultimately returning it to the oceans via vast river networks. An amazing fact of the water cycle is how much water for the cycle is stored in the ocean phase, 96.5%, leaving a small amount available for deposition and runoff (United States Geological Survey, 2014).
To compare, all three planets have secondary atmospheres that were produced by volcanoes. To contrast, Venus is too close to the Sun, and was too warm for liquid water to form and without liquid water; the CO2 could not settle out of the atmosphere and dissolve into the oceans. This caused Venus to suffer from runaway greenhouse effect and became hot with an extremely dense and vastly insulated atmosphere. Along with this, UV sunlight destroyed the H2O in the atmosphere. On the other hand, Earth had enough distance from the Sun for liquid water to form and precipitate out into the ocean while the CO2 in the atmosphere dissolved into the oceans and was removed from the atmosphere. The trace amounts of H2O and CO2 in the atmosphere create an insulating layer which is enough to keep the Earth at a mild temperature. Out of the three planets, Mars is the farthest from the Sun. It is possible that Mars had liquid water earlier in its history. The CO2 dissolved into water; however, Mars has less mass than Venus or the Earth. Because of Mars’ smaller mass, it has less tectonic activity and Volcanism stopped early in its formation. This did not allow the atmosphere to be renewed from CO2 or H2O
“The early Earth was probably partially or largely molten” (The Solar Nebula. N.d). Over time the earth cooled and the crust was formed. “Much continental crust, the most silica rich and least dense kind, has been produced by 2.5 billion years” (The Solar Nebula. N.d). Over a period of time and a series of volcanic eruptions water vapor was thrown into the atmosphere and eventually condensed to form the oceans. From a spinning cloud of dust the evolutionary process began and the Earth that is inhabited today came into existence according to the nebular hypothesis.
It has no taste, no smell and no color. We find it in tanks, ponds, wells, rivers and springs. Almost three-fourth of the earth is water. Millions of years ago human beings used water for all rare reasons. Up till now people don't appreciate how precious water is. Saving water at home does not require any significant cost but there are many ways we can save water through our actions.
The over loaded carbon dioxide trapped in the atmosphere like a warm blanket held the heat from lease to the space. Climate change is a part of the Earth's history. There have been dramatic fluctuations in overall average temperature
From the time the earth was formed, water have been endlessly circulating. This circulation is known as the hydrologic cycle. Groundwater is part of this continuous
Water covers about two thirds of the total surface of Earth, but most of that is saltwater. Humans must drink freshwater to live. 97% of the water on Earth is saltwater, while only 3% of Earth's water is freshwater. And 70% of the freshwater is ice in glaciers, ice caps and permanent snow. The small amount of freshwater remaining is distributed for use to the Earth's 6 ¾ billion people for agriculture, industry,
In the beginning the earth was hot and pure lava, then it became covered with
Water is essential for life as we know it on earth. It is used by plants
Water is our main source of our life. We need it to live, drink, bathe,