"Airvolution: The Earth's Atmosphere has also had its Phases."

During several billion years existence the composition of the Earth’s atmosphere is ever changing.

As we wade through the everchanging river of existence, life never fails to bring its own surprises and challenges. But have you ever considered that our planet’s atmosphere, throughout its extensive history, might have something to say about it? So, join me as I attempt to explore how the evolution of our world’s atmosphere by drawing parallels to different stages we experience as we go about our life’s journey.

Evolution of the Earths Atmosphere

Our tale begins with the turbulent birth of the Earth’s atmosphere in the Hadean era.  A time characterised by the “geological chaos and extremes” such as volcanic eruptions that released volatile gases and climate extremes which created an unstable and inhospitable environment. You could say that in its infancy the atmosphere didn't quite know what it wanted to be when it grew up to put it mildly. It's all to reminiscent of the early years of life, where everything is unpredictable, and every day brings its own unique challenges. During this period, Earth's primordial atmosphere primarily contained high levels of methane and ammonia, yet notably lacking oxygen, unlike today's predominantly nitrogen and oxygen-rich atmosphere.

But do not despair, the Earth’s atmosphere did eventually grow up and mature - albeit over a couple millions of years. Somewhere, around 2.4 billion years ago, during the Archean era, a revolutionary  event unfolded—the Great Oxidation Event.  Similar to any  classic coming-of-age story as the atmosphere matured the planets sole inhabitants at the time were bluish-green microscopic organisms called cyanobacteria flourished in Earth’s oceans began to assert their influence by producing oxygen.

The Great Oxidation Event, is comparable to the all too familiar journey of self-discovery during our adolescence, which as you can imagine had life changing consequences. Gradually, the accumulated oxygen started escaping into the atmosphere, where it reacted with methane. As more oxygen escaped, methane was eventually displaced, and oxygen became a major component of the atmosphere This altered the chemistry of the atmosphere kind of like an awkward growth spurt, as Earth's atmosphere transitioned from a primarily reducing environment to an oxygen-rich one. But the story doesn't end there. Such abundant oxygen also resulted in the invaluable formation of —the ozone layer. Which is the protective layer that shields us from the sun's harsh ultraviolet radiation, thus allowing for the development of diverse ecosystems. In this sense, oxygen's rise can be likened to the period of  self-discovery, by fundamentally altering the atmosphere, and laying the foundation for the for the atmosphere we know today.

Fast forward in time, we arrive at the Proterozoic era, a period when the atmosphere was finally getting its act together as the increasing oxygen levels allowed the emergence of more complex life forms. It's a bit like your 20s when you began to figure things out (hopefully). Similarly, the atmosphere was still evolving, much as we continue to grow and develop each day.

Finally, we reach the Phanerozoic era, a time where we enjoy a relatively stable atmosphere, rich in oxygen, and capable of supporting modern life forms. Thus, we can say that Earth's atmosphere has reached a state of relative equilibrium, not unlike the stability many of us continue to seek in adulthood as we work to establish our careers and other personal aspirations. The modern atmosphere consists of 21% oxygen, 78% nitrogen, and other trace gases which has created a nurturing environment for diverse life forms, including humans. This stability, forged through billions of years of evolution, offers a stark contrast to the turbulent early phases. It's the phase where everything seems to settle down, and we find our balance (eventually).

In closing, dear reader, next time you grumble about another early Monday morning or wonder when life will finally give you a break, take a moment to look towards the sky and remember the Earth's atmosphere. It's been there, done that, and is still evolving. And just like our atmosphere, we too have the capacity to evolve and adapt through any phase, even the most difficult ones. So, here's to Airvolution and the exciting journey ahead! Let's remember that life is a rollercoaster and all we need to do is enjoy the ride.