Air
Settlers on Mars depend on artificial air for breathing, since the atmosphere is too thin and poisonous.
Low pressure effects
The human breathing works best at terrestrial sealevel with an air pressure of 1013 Hektopascal (hPa). The air pressure on the Mount Everest is only 340 hPa.
In such high altitudes of the terrestrial atmosphere the air pressure drops to dangerous values, resulting in acute mountain sickness (AMS) and high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE).
Oxygen reduction for fire prevention
The terrestrial atmosphere contains 21% oxygen, which is the value that human beings have adapted to during a long evolution process. But there is some tolerance. Under normal air pressure persons can live and work with down to 13% oxygen. The danger of fire is much lower in a low oxygen air. With 15% oxygen even paper can no longer burn with a flame. [1]
Open Issues
- What air pressure, combined with different oxygen levels, is required for persons to survive?
- What air pressure, combined with different oxygen levels, is required for persons to live and work?
