Earth, Venus and Mars were subject to differing evolutionary processes in regards to their atmospheres. The current atmospheric composition of each of these planets also differs whereby Earth is dominated by nitrogen and oxygen whilst Venus and Mars are dominated by carbon dioxide (Rasool 1967, p.1466). This essay will examine the differences in the evolution of atmospheric conditions on Earth, Venus and Mars as well as their relative current atmospheric composition. Additionally, this essay will analyse how Earth's atmosphere helped life to originate, survive and develop. Finally, anthropogenic forces and their influence on the Earth's atmosphere will be discussed.
The evolution of the sun, terrestrial planets and life is complex. Human …show more content…
less than 1% of its atmospheric composition. Early Earth likely composed of carbon dioxide, water vapour and minor amounts of ammonia (British Broadcasting Corporation 2014). Kasting and Siefert (2002) highlight the importance of microorganisms in the Earth's atmospheric evolutionary processes. The production of the majority of oxygen on Earth can be attributed directly and indirectly to these microorganisms. Photosynthesis was "co-opted from a precocious and ancient form of life known as cyanobacteria" (Kasting and Siefert 2002, p.1066). Cyanobacteria provided oxygen to the Earth's atmosphere along with nitrogen in the Earth's oceans (Kasting and Siefert 2002). Thus the evolution of the Earth's atmosphere is linked to the development of oxygen through photosynthesis, a process that began 800 million years ago (Rasool 1967, p.1467). Moreover, early Earth, which was exposed to a less bright and younger sun, had conditions essential for certain anaerobic bacteria that released vast volumes of methane (Kasting and Siefert 2002, p.1066). Together, these evolutionary processes led to Earth's warm and appealing climate. Ultimately, the evolution of the Earth's atmosphere is correlated to the development of its biota (Kasting and Siefert 2002,
The evolution of the sun, terrestrial planets and life is complex. Human …show more content…
less than 1% of its atmospheric composition. Early Earth likely composed of carbon dioxide, water vapour and minor amounts of ammonia (British Broadcasting Corporation 2014). Kasting and Siefert (2002) highlight the importance of microorganisms in the Earth's atmospheric evolutionary processes. The production of the majority of oxygen on Earth can be attributed directly and indirectly to these microorganisms. Photosynthesis was "co-opted from a precocious and ancient form of life known as cyanobacteria" (Kasting and Siefert 2002, p.1066). Cyanobacteria provided oxygen to the Earth's atmosphere along with nitrogen in the Earth's oceans (Kasting and Siefert 2002). Thus the evolution of the Earth's atmosphere is linked to the development of oxygen through photosynthesis, a process that began 800 million years ago (Rasool 1967, p.1467). Moreover, early Earth, which was exposed to a less bright and younger sun, had conditions essential for certain anaerobic bacteria that released vast volumes of methane (Kasting and Siefert 2002, p.1066). Together, these evolutionary processes led to Earth's warm and appealing climate. Ultimately, the evolution of the Earth's atmosphere is correlated to the development of its biota (Kasting and Siefert 2002,