Chapter 8 - The atmosphere and hydrosphere

Abstract

This chapter covers a lot of territory including the atmosphere and hydrosphere and their interactions with each other through time. It discusses Earth's primitive atmosphere and oceans as well as the postlunar formation atmosphere, including atmospheric composition and the faint young Sun paradox. It includes a discussion of the carbon and sulfur cycles and carbon and sulfur isotopic anomalies and a discussion of paleoclimates both in the Phanerozoic and in the Precambrian. It summarizes the geologic history of oceans including secular changes in seawater composition and variations in temperature and volume of seawater through time.