thin atmosphere
Low-density gaseous envelope
A thin atmosphere is one with low air pressure and density, containing relatively few gas molecules per volume compared to Earth's sea-level atmosphere.
High-altitude locations like mountain peaks have thin atmospheres, making breathing difficult and requiring climbers to acclimatize or use supplemental oxygen.
Planets like Mars have thin atmospheres that cannot retain heat or support human respiration.
The thin atmosphere at 20,000 feet left us gasping for breath.
- rarefiedMade less dense
- low pressureMinimal force or urgency
- red planetRust-hued celestial body
- tenuousLacking solid foundation
- MarsRed planet, war deity
space exploration · altitude sickness · death zone · planet · habitability · wind · moon · escape velocity · sublimation · alpine tundra · high altitude · Mercury · extremophiles · oxygen deprivation · gasping for air · aerobraking · altitude · mountain climbers
- Europawater ice, ice crust, frozen surface, ridges, surface cracks
- Inner Planetssurface, orbit, core, mantle, crust
- PlutoPluto, Charon, dwarf planet, Hydra, Styx