answersLogoWhite

0

Within the last few thousand years it's been pretty consistent but with changes mainly in CO2 (higher now than in the recent past).

Within the last billion years, the oxygen content has varied from almost nothing to over 25% (currently about 20%), which gave insects a big boost in the game of survival.

Prior to about a billion years ago, it becomes more of a guessing game, but we can assume that the nitrogen level has stayed fairly constant, that there was no detectable (or free) O2 before the blue-green algae, that CO2 might well have been very high (the sun was cooler in those days, but the Earth still had liquid seas), and that significant free methane might have been around (also some weird sulfur compounds).

User Avatar

Wiki User

10y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Earth Science

The condition of earths atmosphere at a particular time and place is called?

condition of earth's atmosphere at a particular place and time


Why is the percentage of argon in the earths atmosphere today the same as it was in the earths early atmosphere?

Argon is a noble gas and does not react with other elements in the atmosphere, so it has remained relatively constant over time. The initial percentage of argon in the Earth's atmosphere was likely determined by the gases present during the planet's formation. The lack of significant processes that remove or add argon to the atmosphere has helped to maintain its percentage over time.


What created earths early atmosphere?

Earth's early atmosphere was created by gases released from volcanic activity, such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and small amounts of methane. Over time, the atmosphere evolved through processes like photosynthesis by early organisms, which contributed oxygen and transformed the composition of the atmosphere to what it is today.


How did the process of out gassing help shape earths atmosphere?

Outgassing from volcanic activity released gases like water vapor, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen into the early Earth's atmosphere. This process contributed to the formation of the atmosphere and may have played a role in creating the conditions necessary for life to develop. Over time, these gases interacted with other processes like photosynthesis to further shape and stabilize Earth's atmosphere.


What gases were probably abundant in the earths early atmosphere?

It is believed that the early Earth's atmosphere likely consisted of gases like water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and methane. Over time, as the Earth cooled and life forms evolved, the composition of the atmosphere changed due to processes like photosynthesis.

Related Questions

What do scientists learn about changes that occurred in earths atmosphere a long time ago by studing what?

mold fossils


Is the condition of earths atmosphere at the particular time and place?

condition of earth's atmosphere at a particular place and time


What was the earths climate like in the atmosphere during quaternary time period?

there was no quarternary period, so make up a climate for your made up time period.


What is main cause of earths atmosphere changing over time to support life?

Green plants evolved adding oxygen to the atmosphere.


What is the atmoshphere like in the inner planets?

Mercury has no real atmosphere, so it's a bit like the moon in that respect. Venus has a very thick atmosphere of mainly carbon dioxide, it has a huge surface pressure of around 93 bar, around 93 time that of earths. Earths atmosphere is mainly nitrogen (79%) and oxygen (20%) with some carbon dioxide (1%) roughly speaking. Mars has a thin atmosphere, mainly carbon dioxide.


What is a solid that can be found in earths atmosphere?

Smoke, it's hard to see, but it's there at any given time


The condition of earths atmosphere at a particular time and place is called?

condition of earth's atmosphere at a particular place and time


Why is the percentage of argon in the earths atmosphere today the same as it was in the earths early atmosphere?

Argon is a noble gas and does not react with other elements in the atmosphere, so it has remained relatively constant over time. The initial percentage of argon in the Earth's atmosphere was likely determined by the gases present during the planet's formation. The lack of significant processes that remove or add argon to the atmosphere has helped to maintain its percentage over time.


What created earths early atmosphere?

Earth's early atmosphere was created by gases released from volcanic activity, such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and small amounts of methane. Over time, the atmosphere evolved through processes like photosynthesis by early organisms, which contributed oxygen and transformed the composition of the atmosphere to what it is today.


How did the process of out gassing help shape earths atmosphere?

Outgassing from volcanic activity released gases like water vapor, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen into the early Earth's atmosphere. This process contributed to the formation of the atmosphere and may have played a role in creating the conditions necessary for life to develop. Over time, these gases interacted with other processes like photosynthesis to further shape and stabilize Earth's atmosphere.


What added oxygen to earths early atmosphere?

The primary sources of oxygen in Earth's early atmosphere were likely photosynthetic organisms like cyanobacteria, which began producing oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis. Over time, this oxygen built up in the atmosphere, leading to the development of oxygen-rich conditions on Earth.


What gases were probably abundant in the earths early atmosphere?

It is believed that the early Earth's atmosphere likely consisted of gases like water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and methane. Over time, as the Earth cooled and life forms evolved, the composition of the atmosphere changed due to processes like photosynthesis.