• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Zippy Facts Logo

Zippy Facts

Interesting Random Facts

  • Animals
  • Culture
  • Firsts
  • Food
  • Geography
  • Health
  • History
  • Inventions
  • Language
  • Mythology
  • Odds
  • People
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Space
  • Universe
  • World
You are here: Home / Space / What Is the Atmosphere On Mars Like and How Much Carbon Dioxide Is There On the Planet Mars?

What Is the Atmosphere On Mars Like and How Much Carbon Dioxide Is There On the Planet Mars?

July 10, 2020 by Karen Hill

The atmosphere on Mars is relatively weak.

It is so thin that damaging ultraviolet solar radiation makes its way unimpeded to the planet’s surface.

Carbon dioxide makes up 95 percent of the atmosphere, followed by nitrogen (2.7 percent) and argon (1.6 percent).

Oxygen, water vapor, neon, krypton, xenon, and ozone comprise less than 1 percent of the atmosphere on Mars.

All of these gases are found in Earth’s atmosphere, but in very different percentages.

The air pressure on Mars resembles what we expect in a vacuum, almost nil.

Dust clouds exist up to about 12 miles (20 km) above Mars’s surface. Clouds of ice crystals (water) lie above the dust.

About 18 miles (30 km) up, there is a layer of hazy dust.

Carbon dioxide ice clouds are found 30 miles (50 km) from the planet’s surface.

Related Facts

  • What is the Difference Between Carbon Monoxide and Carbon Dioxide?
  • Which Country Is the Worst Air Polluter In the World and How Much Carbon Dioxide Does the U.S. Produce?
  • What Is the Planet Mars Like and Why Is Mars Called the Red Planet?
  • How Much Water Is There On Mars and What Are the Most Prominent Features on the Surface of the Planet Mars?
  • Does the Moon Have an Atmosphere and Is the Moon's Atmosphere Similar To Earth's Atmosphere?
  • What Is Pluto's Atmosphere Made of and How Deep Is the Atmosphere On the Planet Pluto?

Filed Under: Space

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « What Is the Tallest Mountain and Volcano In the Solar System and Is There Still Volcanic Activity On Mars?
Next Post: What Are the Outer Planets, What Are The Names of the Outer Planets, and Where Are the Outer Planets Located? »

Footer

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • GitHub
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Medium
  • Pinterest
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Categories

Accomplishments Animals Culture Firsts Food Geography Health History Inventions Language Mythology Odds People Religion Science Space Universe World Your Body

About

Zippy Facts empowers the world by serving educational content that is accessible to everyone.

A tribute to growing up, zippyfacts.com showcases interesting and unusual facts about the world.

Our mission is to use technology to facilitate knowledge transfer and sharing.

Copyright © 2021 Zippy Facts

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy