Section 2.3 Evolution of the atmosphere
There is evidence that the atmosphere has not always possessed its present-day composition, but has evolved over geological timescales. Most significant is the appearance of oxygen as a major atmospheric component. The atmosphere of the has thus traditionally been called a second atmosphere in contrast to a hydrogen-rich primary atmosphere originally inherited from its time of formation. Broadly speaking, the history of the Earth's atmosphere is as follows:
initial primordial atmosphere inherited from from formation; this atmosphere is rich in hydrogen and helium, light gases that readily lost to atmospheric escape;
over time, gases such as N\(_2\text{,}\) CO\(_2\text{,}\) and H\(_2\)O build up via volcanic outgassing;
with the advent of photosynthetic life, the amount of oxygen begins to increase; the rapid rise in the oxygen abundance (around 2.3 Ga) is known as the Great Oxygenation Event;
throughout this history, the removal of CO\(_2\) into carbonate sediments and rocks allows the build up of oxygen (and explains the relative lack of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere);
It should be noted that the presence of oxygen is highly unusual, and tied to the presence of life via photosynthesis and respiration: \(6\textrm{CO}_2+6\textrm{H}_2\textrm{O}\xrightarrow{h\nu} \textrm{C}_{6}\textrm{H}_{12}\textrm{O}_6+6\textrm{O}_2\)
\(\textrm{C}_{6}\textrm{H}_{12}\textrm{O}_6+6\textrm{O}_2\longrightarrow 6\textrm{CO}_2+6\textrm{H}_2\textrm{O}\)
These reactions can be used to summarize the main interaction between the atmosphere and the biosphere.