1. CST Review Standard 4
Energy enters the Earth system primarily as solar radiation and eventually escapes as heat.
Know the relative amount of incoming solar energy compared with Earth’s internal energy and the energy used by society.
Know the fate of incoming solar radiation in terms of reflection, absorption, and photosynthesis.
Know the different atmospheric gases that absorb the earth’s thermal radiation and the mechanism and significance of the greenhouse effect.
Students know the differing greenhouse conditions on Earth, Mars, and Venus; the origins of those conditions; and the climate consequences of each.

2. The Early Atmosphere

3. 1. How do we know about the atmosphere’s history?
Scientists look at the rock and fossil record.
Core Samples
Fossils

4. 2. What happened to Earth’s very first atmosphere?
The early atmosphere was blown away by the Solar Wind, weak gravity, and weak EM field.

5. 3. What caused the earth’s atmosphere to form?
Volcanoes appeared as earth became solid, and began Outgassing.

6. 4. What was earth’s first atmosphere’s composition?
Methane (CH4), Ammonia (NH3), plus small
quantities of water vapor (H20). Asteroids and
comets bombarded earth.
Asteroids and comets bombarded earth.

7. 5. What is Outgassing?
The term Outgassing is important because it represents
The gases that came out of the volcanoes about 2.5
Billion years ago. The atmosphere formed from these
Gases.
Asteroids and comets bombarded earth.

8. 6. Since we had no plants as we know them today, what primitive plants are responsible for photosynthesis during the earth’s early atmosphere?
Primitive plants such as cyanobacteria.

9. Cyanobacteria is a primitive plant responsible for photosynthesis during earth’s early atmosphere; producing oxygen.

10. 7. What produced the oxygen we have today?
The process of photosynthesis.

11. 8. What does photosynthesis produce?
Oxygen and Glucose (also known as a
carbohydrate).

12. Photosynthesis…
NEEDS THIS
TO MAKE THIS
AKA: Carbohydrate

13. 9. What does photosynthesis require to make oxygen and glucose?
Plants + Sunglight + Carbon dioxide + Water.

14. Photosynthesis…
NEEDS THIS
TO MAKE THIS
AKA: Carbohydrate

15. In a “nutshell” OUTGASSING is important because….
It played a big role in the formation of
the atmosphere as we have it today because the
volcanoes produced the outgassing which included
the carbon dioxide, CO2. The cyanobacteria then
Produced oxygen through photosynthesis and
Freed up the oxygen from here

16. Finally the Atmosphere was born and here she is…a beautiful, stable, amount of gases that allow you to breathe and live…78%N,
21% O2, and 1% Ar, CO2…

17. The Atmosphere Today

18. 9. What is the atmosphere’s current composition?
Do you remember the percentages?

19. 1. oxygen 2. nitrogen 3. argon 4. water vapor
10. What is of the following is the most abundant
gas in the atmosphere.
1. oxygen 2. nitrogen 3. argon 4. water vapor

20. 1. oxygen 2. nitrogen 3. argon 4. water vapor
11. Life was not possible in the early atmosphere because one of the following gases was missing.
1. oxygen 2. nitrogen 3. argon 4. water vapor

21. 1. 4.5 billion years ago 2. 11 billion years ago 500 million years ago
12. Approx. how long ago did this atmosphere
begin to form?
billion years ago
billion years ago
500 million years ago
2.5 billion years ago

22. 1. Respiration 2. Photosynthesis Water cycle Nitrogen cycle
13. Which of the following processes was used
To make the first oxygen?
1. Respiration
2. Photosynthesis
Water cycle
Nitrogen cycle

23. 1. A type of sugar 2. A carbohydrate A protein Both 1 and 2
14. What is another name for glucose?
1. A type of sugar
2. A carbohydrate
A protein
Both 1 and 2

24. 1. Respiration 2. Photosynthesis Water cycle Nitrogen cycle
15. Which of the following processes produces oxygen as a byproduct?
1. Respiration
2. Photosynthesis
Water cycle
Nitrogen cycle

25. 1. Outgassing 2. Photosynthesis Water cycle Nitrogen cycle Both 3&4
16. Which of the following processes was not involved in producing oxygen?
1. Outgassing
2. Photosynthesis
Water cycle
Nitrogen cycle
Both 3&4

26. How we learn about the Atmosphere

27. 17. How do Scientist learn about the atmosphere?
Kites , Weather balloon experiments, Airplanes and rockets and satellites.
Weather balloons
Satellites
Airplanes

28. The Atmospheric Layers Today

29. 18. What are the layers of the atmosphere?
Thermosphere
AKA: Ionosphere
Mesosphere
Stratosphere
Troposphere

30. 19. How are the atmospheric layers divided up?
By temperature gradient.
Warming with altitude
Cooling with altitude
Warming with altitude
Cooling with altitude

31. 20. Which layer is the coldest?
Mesosphere.
Warming with altitude
Cooling with altitude
Warming with altitude
Cooling with altitude

32. 17. Which layer is the hottest?
Thermosphere.
Warming with altitude
Cooling with altitude
Warming with altitude
Cooling with altitude

33. 18. Which layer contains the ozone layer?
Stratosphere.
Warming with altitude
Cooling with altitude
Warming with altitude
Cooling with altitude

34. 19. Why is the troposphere important?
The Troposphere is the only layer that supports life. It is the only layer with water vapor and weather.

35. 20. Why is the Stratosphere important?
The Stratosphere screens out much of the high energy EM Spectrum. Specifically UV (ultraviolet) in the Ozone Layer.
Ozone Layer

36. Pressure in the Atmosphere

37. 21. How does the Earth’s atmosphere pressures change with elevation (or altitude)?
Earth’s gravity makes the atmosphere pressure at the ground high. Earth’s atmosphere becomes less dense creating less pressure with increasing elevation.
Less Dense – less molecules
Increasing
Elevation
(Altitude)
More Dense more molecules

38. The Greenhouse Effect

39. Every object releases electromagnetic radiation!
Our eyes see visible waves. But all objects give off infrared waves as heat, we just can’t see them except with special lenses.

40. Animals and humans release infrared radiation.

41. Even non-living things like houses give off infrared radiation.

42. The Earth releases infrared heat too!

43. Radiant Energy (light) from the Sun has short wavelengths because the sun is hot.
Visible Waves

44. The sun provides the most radiant energy than any other source.
Radiant Energy (light) from the Sun has short wavelengths because the sun is hot.
Visible Waves

45. Radiant Energy released by Earth has longer wavelengths (infrared waves-heat).
Short Wavelength
Long Wavelength
Infrared Waves

46. 22. Which of the following provides the most radiant energy for the world?
a. Sun
b. moon
c. nuclear energy
d. geothermal energy

47. 23. Which of the following has a shorter wavelength?
1. Radiation from the sun (visible light) or
2. Infrared radiation released by earth

48. What happens to incoming radiant energy as it travels through the atmosphere?
Radiant Energy (light) from the Sun is absorbed, reflected, or re-radiated back to space.

49. What happens to incoming radiant energy as it travels through the atmosphere?
Radiant Energy (light) from the Sun is absorbed, reflected, or re-radiated back to space.
24. What is the total percentage
of radiant solar energy reflected back clouds?
25. What is the total percentage
of radiant energy absorbed by the atmosphere and clouds?
26. What is the total percentage of radiant energy absorbed by the surface (land and water)?

50. 24. If the earth absorbs more radiant energy than it reflects back into space, what is the effect.?
Temperature will decrease (cooler)
Temperature will increase (warmer)
No change

51. 25. If the earth reflects more radiant energy than it absorbs, what is the effect.?
Temperature will decrease (cooler)
Temperature will increase (warmer)
No change

52. Greenhouse effect

53. The Greenhouse Effect:
is a process by which thermal radiation from a planetary surface is absorbed by atmospheric greenhouse gases, and is re-radiated in all directions.

54. What are the most common Greenhouse gases?
Water Vapor H2O O H
Carbon Dioxide CO2 C O C H
Methane CH4
Nitrogen Oxide NO N O

55. The greenhouse gases that absorb the most radiation are?
Water Vapor H2O
Carbon Dioxide CO2 C O
Methane CH4 C H
Nitrogen Oxide NO N O

56. 26. Which of the following would cause the most absorption of radiation, creating an increase in temperature?
methane
Nitrous oxide
Water vapor and carbon dioxide

57. Radiant Energy released by Earth has longer wavelengths (infrared waves-heat). These are the waves involved in the Greenhouse effect.
Short Wavelength
Long Wavelength
Infrared Waves

58. Visible light passes through from the sun but …C O C H N O
Visible light passes through from the sun but …
Infrared radiation emitted back by the earth is absorbed by the greenhouse gases. O H C H O H N O C O
This is the Greenhouse Effect!!!

59. 27. What type of radiation is involved in the absorbing of greenhouse gases in the greenhouse effect?
X-ray radiation
Ultra violet
Visible light
Infrared radiation

60. 28. Which of the following would cause an increase in temperature?
Reflection of gases
Absorption of gases

61. Infrared Radiation is the one!!!
29. Which of the following radiations is not involved in the absorption of greenhouse gases in the greenhouse effect?
Infrared Radiation is the one!!!
X-ray radiation
Gamma radiation
Visible light
All of the above

62. Human Activities Effect on the Atmosphere

63. Greenhouse Effect
We need the greenhouse effect to stay warm here on earth, but too much of a good thing is a problem!
Becoming too warm around the world (global warming) can affect global and regional weather patterns

64. Putting more gases like carbon dioxide CO2, methane CH4, water vapor H2O, and pollutants in the air can absorb more and more infrared waves and make it warmer on Earth.
How are we humans putting more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere?

65. Activities that Release Carbon Dioxide into the Atmosphere
Clearing Forests
Any type of burning produces carbon dioxide!

66. 30. Which of the following radiations is not involved in the absorption of greenhouse gases in the greenhouse effect?
X-ray radiation
Gamma radiation
Visible light
All of the above

67. 31. What are CFCs and what do they do?
CFCs or Chlorofluorohydrocarbons are pollutants found in aerosol sprays and refrigerants such as refrigerators and air conditioners. The CFC’s destroy the Ozone layer, allowing in dangerous ultraviolet radiation.

68. 2 O3 → 3 O2 32. Why is the stratospheric ozone layer important?
Stratospheric Ozone (O3) blocks harmful UV radiation by absorbing it and converting to O2. UV
light
2 O3 → 3 O2
Reacts with other light
and is restored to O3

69. Methane CH4 is released into the atmosphere by outgassing cows…
Methane Gas 4
So many cows living on our planet are creating the greenhouse gas methane

70. The warmer the earth gets because of greenhouse gases, the more evaporation, and more water vapor (Greenhouse gas)
Water
Vapor
Water
Vapor
More Heat = More Evaporation
Water Vapor, H20 is released into the atmosphere by increased evaporation.

71. Is there a way we can get the same amount of energy but release less carbon dioxide into the air?

72. Look at the dependence on fossil fuels!

73. Look at where we need to cut back!

74. 33. What is causing global warming?
Humans are increasing the amount of greenhouse gases, specifically Carbon Dioxide (CO2). This is causing earth to heat up.

75. 34. What effect are humans and industrialization having on the atmosphere?
Humans are increasing the amount of greenhouse gases, and damaging the stratospheric ozone layer. In addition we are poisoning the air we breathe.

76. 35. What is a temperature inversion and how does it affect air pollution?
A temperature inversion is when hot air is trapped by cold air above and below it. This traps pollution below it.

77. Proof: North Pole Ice Caps Melting

78. It’s not like I can just take my coat off and come live in the desert…I see how it is…you are too busy texting while you destroy my home.
Stop putting so many greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. You are ruining our “homes”

79. Go back to sleep; I guess
The Greenhouse Effect
Is not your problem.

80. What about me????

81. 36. Why is our effect on the atmosphere important?
The atmosphere is very thin, and delicate. It is also very necessary for life, if we destroy it we will die.

82. Do other Planets have a Greenhouse Effect?

83. Venus and Mars have it too!
Yup! The greenhouse effect is not just found on Earth!!!
Venus and Mars have it too!

84. -Venus has a thick atmosphere with lots of greenhouse gases
*Carbon Dioxide
*Water Vapor
*Methane
*Nitrogen Oxide
-So it is much hotter on Venus than on Earth

85. -Mars has a thin atmosphere with almost no greenhouse gases
-So during the day it is very
and at night it’s very

86. 37. Which planet has a greater greenhouse effect?
Venus, Mars, or Earth.

87. But why doesn’t it get really really hot during the day and really really cold at night here on Earth?

88. The trapped arrows represent the Greenhouse Effect
Because of the Greenhouse Effect which naturally warms the lower part of the earth earth.
The trapped arrows represent the Greenhouse Effect
Greenhouse gases absorb infrared (heat) energy from the Sun making the atmosphere warmer.

89. The End