Earths Early History Looking into the past: Stars and rocks, both show what has been LAND ENVIRONMENTS Earth Formed approx. 4.6 Billion Years Ago (BYA) Gravity pulls heavier elements into the core Intense heat Molten rock Asteroid impacts 500 million years pass and an solid outer core forms
ATMOSPHERE Now 300 mile thick layer protecting us from space Exact historical composition unknown Volcanoes responsible for early atmosphere so: Atmospheric gases inferred from modern volcanic gasses, including: water vapor CO2, sulfur dioxide (SO2) Carbon monoxide (CO) Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) Nitrogen (N2) Hydrogen (H2) Little or no free oxygen
Over millions of years Earth cooled Liquid water formed Life appeared about 500 million years after the first oceans formed Earliest evidence of life – 3.5 BYA