Atmosphere of Mars

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The atmosphere of Mars is the layer of gasses surrounding the planet Mars. It is primarily composed of carbon dioxide (95%), molecular nitrogen (2.85%), and argon (2%). It also contains trace levels of water vapor, oxygen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and noble gases. The atmosphere of Mars is much colder and thinner than Earth's, with an average temperature of −59 °C (−74 °F), and a surface pressure of about 610 pascals (0.088 psi), which is about 0.6% of the Earth's value. The density at the surface of Mars varies between about 10 and 20 g/m3, which is only 1–2% of Earth's value. The density is about 25% lower during the southern winter than in spring and autumn because carbon dioxide freezes into a dry ice cap at the south pole, an effect that is smaller during the northern winter because of the highly eccentric orbit of Mars. The low pressure of the Martian atmosphere prohibits the existence of liquid water on the surface of Mars, but many studies suggest that the Martian atmosphere was...

Read on Wikipedia · Image Andrea Luck from Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0