All Courses
Explore Courses UPSC Exam UPSC Test Series Free Notes EduRev Infinity Get the App Login Join for Free
Sign in Open App
Humanities/Arts Exam  >  Humanities/Arts Questions  >  Describe the three stages of evolution of atm... Start Learning for Free
Describe the three stages of evolution of atmosphere.?
Clear all your Humanities/Arts doubts with EduRev
Most Upvoted Answer
Describe the three stages of evolution of atmosphere.?
Evolution of the atmosphere: Nitrogen and oxygen are the major contributor gases to the current structure of the Earth’s atmosphere.
There are three states of development of the present atmosphere: 1) The erosion of the primordial atmospheric gases took place in its first stage. 2) In the second stage, steam and water vapor was emitted from inside the Earth and contributed to the development of the atmosphere. 3) In the end, the structure of the atmosphere was modified by the photosynthesis process of the biosphere. The initial atmosphere in which hydrogen and helium was abundant was removed from the earth due to solar winds. This happened not only on earth but on all terrestrial planets, that is, because of the effect of the solar winds, the primordial atmosphere was either pushed away or eliminated. This was the final stage of the development of the atmosphere.
Community Answer
Describe the three stages of evolution of atmosphere.?
Evolution of Atmosphere


The evolution of the Earth's atmosphere took place in three stages. Each stage was characterized by different gases and atmospheric conditions. These stages are:


Stage 1: The Primary Atmosphere



  • The primary atmosphere was formed during the formation of the Earth about 4.6 billion years ago.

  • It was mainly composed of hydrogen and helium, which were the most abundant elements in the universe at that time.

  • Other gases such as methane, ammonia, water vapor, and carbon dioxide were also present in lesser amounts.

  • There was no oxygen in the atmosphere during this stage.

  • The primary atmosphere was lost due to the escape of lighter gases like hydrogen and helium into space and the degassing of the Earth's interior.



Stage 2: The Secondary Atmosphere



  • The secondary atmosphere was formed about 4 billion years ago.

  • It was primarily composed of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor.

  • Small amounts of other gases like ammonia and methane were also present.

  • Oxygen was absent in the atmosphere during this stage.

  • The secondary atmosphere was a result of volcanic activity, which released gases from the Earth's interior into the atmosphere.

  • The presence of water vapor in the atmosphere led to the formation of oceans on the Earth's surface.



Stage 3: The Modern Atmosphere



  • The modern atmosphere evolved about 2.5 billion years ago.

  • Oxygen began to accumulate in the atmosphere due to the emergence of photosynthetic organisms such as blue-green algae.

  • The oxygen reacted with the methane and other gases in the atmosphere, forming carbon dioxide and water vapor.

  • The modern atmosphere is primarily composed of nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), and argon (0.93%).

  • Trace amounts of other gases like carbon dioxide, neon, helium, and methane are also present.

  • The modern atmosphere also contains water vapor, which varies in concentration depending on the location and climate.
Explore Courses for Humanities/Arts exam

Similar Humanities/Arts Doubts

Direction: Read the case study given below and answer any three of the questions that follow.Nitrogen is a major constituent of the atmosphere comprising about seventy-eight per cent of the atmospheric gases. It is also an essential constituent of different organic compounds such as the amino acids, nucleics acids, proteins, vitamins and pigments. Only a few types of organisms like certain species of soil bacteria and blue green algae are capable of utilising it directly in its gaseous form. Generally, nitrogen is usable only after it is fixed. Ninety per cent of fixed nitrogen is biological. The principal source of free nitrogen is the action of soil micro-organisms and associated plant roots on atmospheric nitrogen found in pore spaces of the soil. Nitrogen cycle be fixed in the atmosphere by lightning and cosmic radiation. In the oceans, some marine animals can fix it. After atmospheric nitrogen has been fixed into an available form, green plants can assimilate it. Herbivorous animals feeding on plants, in turn, consume some of it. Dead plants and animals, excretion of nitrogenous wastes are converted into nitrites by the action of bacteria present in the soil. Some bacteria can even convert nitrites into nitrates that can be used again by green plants. There are still other types of bacteria capable of converting nitrates into free nitrogen, a process known as denitrification.Q. Generally, nitrogen is usable only after it is _________.

Top Courses for Humanities/ArtsView all

Top Courses for Humanities/Arts

Describe the three stages of evolution of atmosphere.?
Question Description
Describe the three stages of evolution of atmosphere.? for Humanities/Arts 2025 is part of Humanities/Arts preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the Humanities/Arts exam syllabus. Information about Describe the three stages of evolution of atmosphere.? covers all topics & solutions for Humanities/Arts 2025 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Describe the three stages of evolution of atmosphere.?.
Solutions for Describe the three stages of evolution of atmosphere.? in English & in Hindi are available as part of our courses for Humanities/Arts. Download more important topics, notes, lectures and mock test series for Humanities/Arts Exam by signing up for free.
Here you can find the meaning of Describe the three stages of evolution of atmosphere.? defined & explained in the simplest way possible. Besides giving the explanation of Describe the three stages of evolution of atmosphere.?, a detailed solution for Describe the three stages of evolution of atmosphere.? has been provided alongside types of Describe the three stages of evolution of atmosphere.? theory, EduRev gives you an ample number of questions to practice Describe the three stages of evolution of atmosphere.? tests, examples and also practice Humanities/Arts tests.
Explore Courses for Humanities/Arts exam

Top Courses for Humanities/Arts

Explore Courses
SaveJoin the Discussion on the App for FREE
Signup for Free!
Signup to see your scores go up within 7 days! Learn & Practice with 1000+ FREE Notes, Videos & Tests.
10M+ students study on EduRev
Get App
© EduRev
Education Revolution
Signup to see your scores go up within 7 days!
Access 1000+ FREE Docs, Videos and Tests
Takes less than 10 seconds to signup