Oxygen makes up nearly 20% of the atmosphere. Use the following information to calculate the residence time of oxygen in the atmosphere. Mass of oxygen in atmosphere = 1.4 million gigatonsMajor sources of oxygen to atmosphere:Photosynthesis by plants on land = 125 gigatons/yrPhotosynthesis by plants in ocean = 155 gigatons/yrMajor sinks of oxygen from atmosphere:Respiration by animals = 220 gigatons/yrBacteria = 50 gigatons/yrBurning of fossil fuels = 10 gigatons/yr

Residence time  = 5000 years

Explanation:

Given that ;

the mass of oxygen in the atmosphere = 1.4 million gigatons = 1.4 × 10⁶ gigatons

Major sources of oxygen to atmosphere include:

Photosynthesis by plants on land = 125 gigatons/yr

Photosynthesis by plants in ocean = 155 gigatons/yr

Total rate of oxygen = (125 + 155) gigatons/yr

= 280 gigatons/yr

the residence time of oxygen in the atmosphere is therefore calculated by the formula:

Residence time =

Residence time =

Residence time  = 5000 years

the aurora is formed when charged particles emitted from the sun during a solar flare penetrate the earth's magnetic shield and collide with atoms and molecules in our atmosphere. these collisions result in countless little bursts of light, called photons, which make up the aurora.

auroras are generated by charged solar particles hitting molecules in earth's atmosphere. this usually happens in high latitudes, because our planet’s magnetic field tends to funnel these particles toward the poles. that’s why it can be experienced in northern ohio.