Why is Mars’ atmosphere so thin today, compared to Earth’s?

Answer 1

Diet and exercise

Answer 2

I agree with Ali. But it is more complicated than that. Earth and Venus have the same gravity, but Venus has 90 times more atmosphere than Earth. Mars has no magnetic field shielding it from the solar wind, but neither does Venus.

So this is really still an open question.

The polar ice caps do have quite a bit of dry ice, which is frozen carbon dioxide. The martian atmosphere is almost pure carbon dioxide. So some part of the atmosphere is always frozen out and laying on the ground at the poles. If the planet were closer to the Sun, all that dry ice would melt, sublimate actually, and the atmosphere would be denser. Not as dense as Earth's though, I think.

Answer 3

Mars has an atmosphere: length: Thinner than Earths and Venus stress: 600 pascals CONTENTS: ninety 3% Carbon Dioxide, 3% Nitrogen, 2% Argon, below a million% Oxygen, Carbon Monoxide, Ozone & Water vapor. NOTES: Mars atmosphere is getting thinner. the ambience incorporates airborne dirt and dust.

Answer 4

It is simply a question of gravity. Mars' gravity is roughly 1/3 of Earth's meaning simply that it cannot hold down an atmosphere very well. That is also why Mercury has no atmosphere at all. (In mercury's case, the problem is compounded by the intense heat since it is so close to the Sun; the atmosphere essentially boils off into space.)

Answer 5

A couple of thoeries:

1. Mars is smaller than the earth, so it has less gravitational pull at the surface, so it can't hold on to gas molecules as well as the earth. Over long periods of time, Mars' atmosphere dissipated into space.

2. Mars has no significant global magnetic field, so the solar wind, instead of being deflected around the planet, and over a long period of time would literally 'blow' any atmospheric gasses away.

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Answer 6

It is so cold most of it is condensed. I have Sean many pictures of Mars and there Are dry river beds and great canyons that look like they were cut by water. If Mars was hot enough for water to run like that what was the temperature on earth.

Answer 7

Mars doesn't have much of an ecosystem to create/sustain an atmosphere. It's kinda hard to grow vegetation without the air and water to start with.

Answer 8

One reason is Mars' lower gravity, which made it more difficult to hold gaseous elements. Also, the relative nearness of the giant Jupiter, which would have scooped up the "lion's share" of gaseous matter in the vicinity, and indeed did so----look at their relative sizes and masses.
Or, it could have been because of the Atkins diet.

Answer 9

Mars is smaller so has weaker gravity. This means it can't hold on to as much gas as earth can

Answer 10

The gravity is too low to sustain an atmosphere and "heat" is wrong. It rarely gets above freezing there.

Answer 11

Martian Warming. Man has sent objects to Mars and disturbed the eco system causing it to warm up.

Haven't you read Algores propoganda sheet?