Table 1 shows the recorded atmospheric composition and average internal temperature of a closed-system planetary simulator, 'Gaea-II', over four distinct experimental phases of biological succession.
| Experimental Phase | Dominant Biological System | Carbon Dioxide (CO2CO_2CO2) Concentration | Oxygen (O2O_2O2) Concentration | Average Simulator Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 0: Baseline | Sterile (No biological organisms) | Extremely high (85%) | 0% | 42∘C42^\circ\text{C}42∘C |
| Phase I: Microalgae | Engineered cyanobacteria inoculated | Intermediate (12%) | Trace amounts (1.5%) | 28∘C28^\circ\text{C}28∘C |
| Phase II: Canopy | Mature, high-density vertical forest farms | Low (approx. 0.04%) | High (approx. 20.5%) | 15∘C15^\circ\text{C}15∘C |
| Phase III: Harvesting | Clear-cutting / crop removal (reduced biomass) | Increasing (approx. 0.08%) | Stable (approx. 20.5%) | 18∘C18^\circ\text{C}18∘C |
Explain the mechanisms by which the introduction and subsequent harvesting of photosynthetic life modified the atmospheric composition and the internal temperature of the Gaea-II simulator.
In your answer, refer to the data in Table 1 and include:
Practise Edexcel GCSE Chemistry Earth and atmospheric science with exam-style questions for Foundation and Higher tier. 62 questions, matched to the Edexcel GCSE Chemistry (1CH0) specification and written in Paper 1 and Paper 2 style. Every question includes a full worked solution and mark scheme, so you can see where marks are awarded rather than just whether you got the answer right.
