1. C13 The Earth’s Atmosphere
C13.1 History of our atmosphere
C13.2 Our evolving atmosphere
C13.3 Greenhouse gasses
C13.4 Global climate change
C13.5 Atmospheric pollutants
Name: ………………………… Class………………

2. Learning Outcomes
During this personal learning project, you will be guided towards activities to help you achieve the following outcomes:
To know a theory about how our atmosphere developed.
To know how to interpret evidence and evaluate different theories about the Earth’s early atmosphere, given appropriate information.
To know the main changes in the atmosphere over time and some of the likely causes of these changes.
To know the relative proportions of gases in our atmosphere now.
To know how the greenhouse effect operates.
To know the importance of peer review of results and communicating results to a wise range of audiences.
To know how emissions of carbon dioxide and methane can be reduced.
To know why actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions may be limited.
To know how to discuss the scale, risk, and environmental implications of global climate change.
To know the products of combustion of a fuel, given the composition of a fuel and the conditions in which it is used.
To know the problems caused by increased amounts of pollutants in the air.

3. Browse: ‘The Earth’s Atmosphere’ in Doddle
Useful websites;
Browse: ‘The Earth’s Atmosphere’ in Doddle
Web Quest
The Earth’s Atmosphere
For 200 million years, the proportions of different gases in the atmosphere have been much the same as they are today:
Find out!
How old is the Earth?
How has the the level of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere changed over time?
What has caused the Earth’s atmosphere to change over time?
Gas
Percentage %
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Carbon dioxide
Other gases
-LA-MA Version
Find out the percentage of the different gases that make up the Earth’s atmosphere.
Draw a pie chart to show the percentage of the gases that make up the Earth’s atmosphere.

4. Useful Websites BBC Bitesize Youtube
Web Quest
The Earth’s Atmosphere
The Earth’s atmosphere has been changing for over 4.5 billion years. Theories about how the atmosphere was formed have changed and developed over time.
Our current atmosphere.
A. One theory states that the Earth used to be volcanic. Describe the role of volcanoes in forming the early atmosphere.
B. Describe the role of plants in the evolution of the atmosphere?
C. Describe how the oceans formed. Why did the formation of oceans cause the carbon dioxide concentration to decrease?
There are several factors that have lead to the atmosphere evolving to what it is today.
Visit the websites to find out the answers to the 
questions. Use the following page to map your answers.
-Standard demand

5. Our current atmosphere.
Mapping
sheet
Our current atmosphere. A. B. C.
-Student mapping sheet.

6. Use the sources on the previous pages as well as the information you have found to create a timeline showing major changes to the Earth’s atmosphere.
Timeline
4.5 Billion years ago…

7. Useful Websites 1)BBC Bitesize 1) YouTube 2) YouTube
Web Quest
The Earth’s Atmosphere
Over time, the level of CO2 in our atmosphere has been decreased by the formation of sedimentary rocks and fossil fuels, e.g. coal and oil.
The carbon in carbon dioxide has been ‘Locked-up’ inside of sedimentary rocks and fossil fuels.
Visit the websites to find out the answers to the 
questions in this mapping sheet. Use the mapping sheet on the next slide to structure your answers.
-Standard demand

8. -Student mapping sheet.
Where does the carbon in limestone come from?
What is the name of the carbon containing compound in limestone?
Describe the conditions needed to make sedimentary rocks like limestone
Where does the carbon in crude oil come from?
What is the name of the carbon containing compounds in crude oil?
Describe the conditions needed to make crude oil.
Where does the carbon in coal come from?
How long does it take to form coal and oil?
Describe the conditions needed to make coal.
-Student mapping sheet.

9. C13.3 Greenhouse gases Web quest
BBC Bitesize
S-cool Revision
Video
Explain what is meant by the ‘greenhouse effect’. You can use a diagram to support your explanation.
Describe the effect of greenhouse gases on wavelength.
Some human activities increase the amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The two main gases are…
These gases are released into the atmosphere by…

10. Weighing up the evidence – Graph analysis
Year
Co2 Concentration in ppm
Source
2005
379
Pacific Island
1995
360
1985
345
1975
331
1965
320
Antarctica
1955
313
1945
310
1935
309
1925
305
1915
297
1905
294
Draw an appropriate graph to display the data in the table. You can use ICT or the graph paper included in this booklet.
What is the pattern?
What can you conclude?
What factors may affect your conclusion?

11. Results of global warming
C13.4 Global climate change Web quest
BBC bitesize
Results of global warming

12. The carbon footprint What is meant by the term ‘carbon footprint’?
Fill the image below with factors which add to your carbon footprint, use bigger font for the factors which you think contribute the most.
The steps to reduce carbon emissions…
Problems with reducing the carbon footprint..

13. Atmospheric pollutants
When carbon-based fuels are burned, there are different outcomes depending on the amount of oxygen present. There are also by-products due to the presence of impurities in the fuels, and gasses which are present when the fuel is burned. The thermal energy released from the fuel can cause these substance to react and form harmful products.
Complete combustion:
Fuel + Sufficient Oxygen  Carbon dioxide + Water
Incomplete combustion:
Fuel + Insufficient Oxygen  Carbon monoxide + Carbon particulates + Water

14. Substance Where / how it forms Effect on the planet Carbon dioxide
For each of the combustion products listed below, indicate:
where they come from / how they are formed.
The effect they have on the planet and it’s atmosphere.
Substance
Where / how it forms
Effect on the planet
Carbon dioxide
Carbon monoxide
Carbon particulates
Sulfur dioxide
Nitrogen oxides