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Oxygen was always present in the early atmosphere, but at levels of a few percent only. Measurements have been made in the Banded Iron deposits.

THEN the algae invented photosynthesis and this raised the oxygen level to probably over 20%. This may have been as early as 2.4x109 years ago.

The algae gobbled the CO2 and methane, and eventually all the good greenhouse gases were gone, and Snowball Earth arrived, with temperatures that may have been as low as -50oC at the Equator.

This lasted till the early pre-cambrian, for the volcanoes were still puffing out CO2 etc, and the Earth began to warm again.

Note that photosynthesis is NOT a green process, its essential element is splitting water into H2 and O. The plants/algae can the use the H component to build more complex molecules.

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What gas is released into earth's atmosphere because of photosynthesis?

Oxygen or O2Oxygen is produced by the process of photosynthesis.


Before photosynthesis evolved was oxygen rare in Earth's atmosphere?

Yes, before photosynthesis evolved, oxygen was rare in Earth's atmosphere. Early Earth's atmosphere was composed mainly of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and water vapor. As photosynthesis evolved and became more widespread, oxygen began to accumulate in the atmosphere, leading to the oxygen-rich environment we have today.


What molecule does oxygen come from?

Oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere primarily comes from photosynthesis, where plants and other photosynthetic organisms produce oxygen as a byproduct. During photosynthesis, these organisms use carbon dioxide and water to create glucose and release oxygen.


What biological process is responsible for the creation of oxygen in earth's atmosphere?

The process responsible for the creation of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere is photosynthesis, which occurs in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. During photosynthesis, these organisms use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. This process has been essential in shaping Earth's atmosphere and maintaining a stable environment for life.


How did earth get oxygen 4 billion years ago?

The Earth's early atmosphere did not contain oxygen until about 2.5 billion years ago. Oxygen was produced by photosynthetic bacteria and later by plants as a byproduct of their metabolic processes. Over time, this accumulation of oxygen led to the development of the oxygen-rich atmosphere that we have today.

Related Questions

Where did the oxygen in Earth's atmosphere come from originally?

The oxygen in Earth's atmosphere originally comes from the process of photosynthesis carried out by early photosynthetic organisms like cyanobacteria, which released oxygen as a byproduct. Over time, the accumulation of oxygen led to the development of an oxygen-rich atmosphere.


Does air come from the sun?

No. Earth's atmosphere most likely originate from volcanic atmosphere. The oxygen is produced by plants.


What percentage of the Earth's atmosphere is composed of oxygen?

About 21% of the Earth's atmosphere is composed of oxygen.


Billions of years ago how did the earth come to have an oxygen rich atmosphere?

The oxygen in Earth's atmosphere was likely produced around 2.4 billion years ago by photosynthetic organisms such as cyanobacteria, which released oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis. Over time, this oxygen accumulated in the atmosphere, leading to the development of an oxygen-rich environment.


What percentage of oxygen is present in the Earth's atmosphere?

About 21 of the Earth's atmosphere is made up of oxygen.


How did earth come have an oxygen atmosphere?

Early organisms created oxygen from other gases in the atmosphere. More specifically, the methane atmosphere on Earth was supplanted by oxygen generated by microorganisms in the oceans. Today, the vast majority of our oxygen comes from the ocean - mainly plants. Earth came to have a oxygen atmostphere because that is the way God invisoned it, so thats how he made it.


What is the approximate percentage of oxygen in the atmosphere?

Earth's atmosphere is about 21% oxygen by volume (for dry air).


What percentage of Earth's atmosphere does oxygen take up?

Oxygen makes up about 21% of Earth's atmosphere.


What is the percentage of oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere by mass?

The percentage of oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere by mass is approximately 21.


What is the proportion of oxygen in the atmosphere today?

About 21% of the Earth's atmosphere is oxygen.


Which gas forms 21 percent of the Earth's atmosphere?

Oxygen forms 21 percent of the Earth's atmosphere.


How did the oxygen in the atmosphere get there?

The oxygen in Earth's atmosphere has been generated, over geological time, by the plant life on Earth.