What does Dense atmosphere feel like?

[atpollard]

As far as my understanding of gaseous & planetary physics goes (which isn't very far), while there are a number of things that can cause a thin, very thin, or less atmosphere to form, or a normally-dense atmosphere to be partially removed, from a 1-G world, isn't the only way to get a more dense atmpsphere by having a gravity of more than 1?

I have no idea how it would form, but replacing the "inert" nitrogen in earth's atmosphere with a heavier inert gas would make the atmosphere denser without needing a higher gravity. Venus has less gravity than earth but a denser atmosphere. Same concept, different gas mixture.

 

[far-trader]

Well, Dan, you may just have to chew gum while you're "at depth", but if you stay too long, you will have problems. And, the longer you stay, the slower you have to take "coming up".

I failed to be clear above, the pressure clearing tricks (chewing gun, cracking the jaw, whatever) are only meant for small pressure changes. No more than 2 atmospheres, probably much less. Note the whole UWP from 0 to 7 covers vacuum to standard pressure (including taints). I don't see the step from standard (UWP 6-7) to dense (8-9) justifying more than a small percentage above standard pressure. Even a full 2 atmospheres is pushing it imo.

So I see no real problems in going from ship standard pressure to "dense" and back again.There are even therapeutic benefits I think. A world with a dense atmo may be a huge health resort.

I agree, more pressure than that will require more preparation and probably gear. But that would be imo an Exotic atmosphere (UWP A).

Note that CT says "Thin, standard, and dense atmosphere are breathable without assistance." That pretty much precludes atmosphere so dense that one would have to worry about pressure regulators and tanks, time at depth calculations, and decompression. That is the very definition of an Exotic atmosphere though.

 

[far-trader]

I have no idea how it would form, but replacing the "inert" nitrogen in earth's atmosphere with a heavier inert gas would make the atmosphere denser without needing a higher gravity. Venus has less gravity than earth but a denser atmosphere. Same concept, different gas mixture.

Yep, but again I think that would fit the definition of an Exotic atmosphere, not a Dense one, according to the way the books define it.

 

[aramis]

It is proof of principle, FT.

 

[Fritz_Brown]

Note that CT says "Thin, standard, and dense atmosphere are breathable without assistance." That pretty much precludes atmosphere so dense that one would have to worry about pressure regulators and tanks, time at depth calculations, and decompression. That is the very definition of an Exotic atmosphere though.

I had missed that. That certainly does make it less problematic (though, less dramatic, too).

Yep, but again I think that would fit the definition of an Exotic atmosphere, not a Dense one, according to the way the books define it.

That wouldn't necessarily be true if it were an inert gas, Dan. (What about an atmo that's Thin because it has a lot of helium? :file_19: )