The Earth's atmosphere, or air, formed through volcanic outgassing and the gradual accumulation of gases released from the planet's interior over millions of years.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
- Early Earth's Interior: In the early stages of Earth's formation, much of the oxygen was locked within rocks.
- Volcanic Activity: Intense volcanic activity released gases from the Earth's interior. These gases included water vapor (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2), which contained oxygen atoms.
- Formation of Oceans and Atmosphere: The released water vapor condensed to form the oceans, while the various gases, including carbon dioxide and other volcanic emissions, contributed to the formation of the early atmosphere.
- Evolution of the Atmosphere: Over geological time, processes like photosynthesis by early life forms gradually increased the amount of free oxygen (O2) in the atmosphere, changing its composition to what we have today.
In short, the air we breathe today is the result of gases released from volcanoes combined with the gradual accumulation of oxygen produced by life, built up over millions of years.
