History of the Earth
Add to table of contents: Bio-Geological Timeline Pg. 38 History of the Earth Pg. 39
History of the Earth Pg. 39 Earth “began” 4.6 Bya 4 Geological Time Breakdowns: Precambrian Time Paleozoic Era Mesozoic Era Cenozoic Era
1.Precambrian Time – 4.6 Bya-542 Mya -Hadean Era 4.6 to 4 Bya -Planetary collision breaks off chunk of earth and it becomes the moon. (Giant Impact Hypothesis) Lunar rocks have the same composition as earth.
Precambrian Time – 4.6 Bya-542 Mya -Hadean Era 4.6 to 4 Bya -Volcanic earth begins to cool and forms a crust.
-Hadean Era 4.6 to 4 Bya -The Earth’s atmosphere forms from gases released from volcanoes(methane,CO2, ammonia) -Water Vapor trapped in this atmosphere precipitated into oceans. (anaerobic prokaryote life began)
How did even more water get on our planet? http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/earth/earth_timeline/earth_formed#p00fzss4 How did even more water get on our planet?
-Archean Era 4 to 2.5 Bya
-Archean Era 4 to 2.5 Bya Continental plates(land) are formed. Diverse Microbial life flourished. (blue-green Cyanobacteria began to produce oxygen).
2. Paleozoic Era-542 to 251 Mya
2. Paleozoic Era-542 to 251 Mya -Pangea forms. - Oxygen-rich atmosphere.
3. Mesozoic Era-251 Mya to 65.5 Mya -Pangea begins to break apart. Huge Meteor impacts the Earth.
Mass Extinction!!
4. Cenozoic Era-65.5 Mya to present -India collides with Asia, Antarctica drifts over the South Pole, and all continents moved to where we know them today.