Archaean atmosphere

The Archaean atmosphere, dating from about 4 billion to 2.5 billion years ago, was vastly different from today’s. It had very little free oxygen and was primarily made up of gases like methane, ammonia, and water vapor. This environment supported the early development of life, particularly simple microorganisms called prokaryotes. The lack of oxygen and presence of greenhouse gases contributed to a warmer planet. Over time, as photosynthetic organisms evolved, they began producing oxygen, gradually transforming the atmosphere and paving the way for more complex life forms in the future.