Mars The Red Planet
| HOME | Mars'
Atmoshere Earlier in Mars' history it was much
like Earth lacking Plate Tectonics Mars is not able to
recycle any carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Therefore, it cannot sustain a significant greenhouse
effect. Therefore Mars' surface is much colder then Earth
would be at this distance from the Sun. Mars has a very
thin atmosphere, mostly of the tiny amount of carbon
dioxide that remained. (95.3%) plus nitrogen (2.7% argon)
(1.6%) and some traces of oxygen (0.15%) and very little
water (0.03%). Mars has very little pressure on it's
surface, only 7 milibars it is les then 1% of Earth. But,
it is thick enough to support extremely strong winds and
huge dust storms that sometimes engulf the entire planet
for months. Mars' thin atmosphere produces a green house
effect that only raises the surfaces temperature by five
degrees. That is much less then what we see on Earth and
Venus. |