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.
The growth of primitive plants, such as algae and mosses, led to an increase in oxygen levels through photosynthesis. This process reduced the percentage of carbon dioxide in the Earth's early atmosphere as the plants used it for growth. This shift in gases laid the groundwork for the development of more complex plant and animal life forms.
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.
Oxygen was the important element missing in Earth's early atmosphere. It was only produced later by photosynthetic organisms.
photosynthetic organisms, like cyanobacteria, which produced oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis. This led to the increase in atmospheric oxygen levels, changing the composition of Earth's early atmosphere.
Cyanobacteria are the group of organisms most responsible for changing the composition of Earth's early atmosphere. Through photosynthesis, they released oxygen into the atmosphere, fundamentally altering its composition and paving the way for aerobic organisms to evolve.
oxygen
oxygen
nitrogen
no
photosynthsis
Hydrogen and helium
energy from the sun,lightening,earths heat triggered chemical reaction for the early gases of the earth combined
oxygen
Methane gas
Carbon dioxide
Oxygen (O2) was not present in early Earth's reducing atmosphere. It only became abundant in the atmosphere due to the photosynthetic activity of cyanobacteria and other early organisms.
Carbon dioxide used to make up most of Earth's early atmosphere.