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#1 Re: Terraformation » How much oxygen do we need to breathe? » 2007-08-03 07:12:50

I dont really undestand the role nitrogen plays.

Where does nitrogen come from on Earth?

What do we and other plants/animals need nitrogen for?

#2 Re: Terraformation » How much oxygen do we need to breathe? » 2007-07-20 14:05:45

Interesting, so you are saying that we need nitrogen in the air aswell as Oxygen to survive? Or that we need to have much lower levels of Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere? Or both? If, lets say we could transform the Martian atmosphere to a 50/50 oxygen/Carbon Dioxide mix could we survive?

#3 Re: Terraformation » How much oxygen do we need to breathe? » 2007-07-20 11:51:56

I understand that on Earth we have an atmosphere that is just 21% Oxygen.

And that terraforming Mars would probably begin by introducing algae and later plants to build up oxygen levels in the atmosphere.

But at what point will this atmosphere become breathable? Is just 5% oxygen sufficient, or does it need to be similar to Earth (21%)?

I read somewhere that deep divers sometimes use a gas mix that is just 16% oxygen, but that may be due to different pressures at depth making the oxygen % rise???? Not sure.......

Is there a simple tipping point, or would a low level, say 8% allow people to at least survive in the atmosphere for a certain amount of time?

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