5.5 Atmosphere and Climate

What is the atmosphere?

• A layer of ice above the Earth's crust

• A layer of gas above the Earth's surface

• A layer of water on the Earth's surface

• A layer of rock under the Earth's crust

Match the following estimates of the Earth's age with their corresponding values.

• Age of the Earth according to some ancient texts

• 4000 million years

• Current scientific estimate of Earth's age

• 6000 million years

• Hypothetical age based on future predictions

• 5000 million years

• Age based on certain geological theories

• 4600 million years

What caused the early atmosphere to form?

• Water evaporation

• Volcanic activity

• Comet collisions

• Plant growth

What gas did volcanoes produce that condensed into water?

• Methane

• Oxygen

• Water vapour

• Carbon dioxide

The early atmosphere was mostly made of (a)   .

• Oxygen
• Methane and ammonia
• Nitrogen and helium
• Carbon dioxide

Which planet has an atmosphere similar to early Earth?

• Mars

• Venus

• Jupiter

• Saturn

What is the surface temperature of Venus?

When did micro-organisms develop on Earth?

• 4600 million years ago

• 3500 million years ago

• 2000 million years ago

• 600 million years ago

Early micro-organisms produced (a)   as a waste product.

• Methane
• Oxygen
• Nitrogen
• Ammonia

Which process allows plants to make food?

• Respiration

• Combustion

• Photosynthesis

• Evaporation