We see Pandora as being not only rich in plant life, but also full of high-metabolism animal life, which I assume would expel even greater quantities of carbon dioxide.
Obviously the animal life is adapted to the high carbon dioxide concentration and have particularly efficient respiratory systems. And who knows what types of microbal life exist in the oceans, etc. Volcanism isn't the only explanation for high hydrogen sulfide concentrations. And we evolved here, adapted over millennia. What hope have we when dropped into an alien biosphere? The idea that xenoclimates will be pleasant, let alone survivable, is an SF trope that Avatar has not adopted.
Since it was not addressed yet - hydrogen sulfide has similar toxicity as cyanide for us, similar in the sense of same order of magnitude. It is usually is not dangerous as much lower concentrations stink horribly. But Pandora concentrations need to be corrected for different pressure should lead to death within minutes or even seconds. But as other answers mention it is easy to imagine plants and wildlife that develop tolerance to such concentrations we have some on Earth.
I am surprised how close these numbers fit what we see in the movie - short exposure isn't a death sentence - but a few minutes will kill. Looks like they had someone calculate it exactly. One possible explanation is that the CO2 levels are dependent on the greenhouse effect.
The more CO2 there is in the air, the warmer the planet is. If we assume that high CO2 levels drive plant growth, which then reduces CO2, then we have a situation where the greenhouse effect loses steam and the planet gets colder. The cold will reduce plant life, which will then allow CO2 levels to rise again. If this is true, then the CO2 levels in the air may be dependent on how much solar radiation there is.
If we assume that Earth gets relatively high amounts of radiation, then plant life can expand until CO2 levels are relatively low before cold starts reducing plant growth. Pandora then is further away, and gets less solar radiation and so can only sustain heavy plant growth with a high CO2 driven greenhouse effect.
That would explain why CO2 isn't being reduced. As to how such lush plant life can exist, one would have to assume that there's also just more carbon in general available to be captured.
Part of the explanation might also be that we're just seeing the equatorial jungle portions and that the rest of it isn't so lush. Given the composition of Pandoran athmosphere, they could even be chemosynthetic, as shown in Wikipedia :.
Our own flora gives off carbondioxide at night and oxygen in the light of day. It is established that pandora is a low light planet, hence the bioluminesence. It could be that the gas exchange is such that oxygen levels can' t get above a certain level. It is an alien planet where earth checks and balances don't exist.
Ill stay with the balance of gas theory for now. Sign up to join this community. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top. Stack Overflow for Teams — Collaborate and share knowledge with a private group. Create a free Team What is Teams? The lack of CO2 would most likely be a much slower problem. A breath or two of the Pandoran mix puts a human down. The lack of CO2 isn't going to be at the same level. While there could be a whole host of issues associated with the lack of CO2, the largest would likely be blood pH changes.
Dissolved CO2 is a weak acid and the lack of that acid would drive the pH up. Lahea Atxkxeftu. Lahea Atxkxeftu ve'kangi leskxawnga satutet.
I agree with Txen, an osmotic shock could kill easily Also, do you remember the scene when Jake was driving his avatar for the first time? The room was filled with pandoran air, instead of the earth one. If the na'vi would be able to breathe earth air, there would be no need to use pandoran air.
Then the scientists wouldn't have to wear exopacks. The reason that I was asking about a Na'vi's ability to handle an Earthly atmospheric chemistry, is because my real life wife, Tee, Ateyo Te Syaksyuk , is doing a story that starts out eight years after the RDA vrrtep have been sent packing. After time, just before the two of them become too close, the pilot makes a joke concerning her need to wear a mask, and therefore not be able to kiss the Na'vi, saying that "it is like the storyline in an ancient Earth Movie called Ladyhawke where the two lovers can never be together".
IF, and this is a BIG "if", the Na'vi can tolerate an Earthlike atmosphere with their blood chemistry not going off the charts, then the short Na'vi or far better yet, a Science Tech. Last edited by Niri Te; at AM. Moco Loco. Moco Loco is a lion in a low place. Haha, sounds cute. I've heard some speculation before about na'vi possibly being able to breathe in an Earth atmosphere, but Lahea brings up a good point about the room with the scientists.
However, I'm sure if they could breathe the air we do, they'd at least be a little weaker from it, and that scene in the medical room was meant to evaluate how well the avatars were functioning. If the air quality could have any effect on that and it probably would , it would be better to have Pandoran air in the room. Ateyo leSyaksyuk. Ateyo leSyaksyuk originator of post. This is my heartsick poem. Peyfu tsun ting sapom, Fu si tsaheyl?
A Tawtute can love a Na'vi But how would they breathe? Or commit tsaheylu? My aching heart! How can we share a kiss? Love will find a way, my sweet. Love will find a way! Human No More. In an Earth composition atmosphere, it would be yes, as the O2 concentration is almost the same, while xenon has no biological function due to its properties; while Earth as seen in Avatar would be unlikely.
There's a very good reason for wearing exopacks when Jake is first linking - he's going outside anyway, so it's easier to have it depressurised than use the airlock indeed,. Active 9 months ago. Viewed 21k times.
Improve this question. Mistu4u Atul Dhanuka Atul Dhanuka 1, 2 2 gold badges 10 10 silver badges 21 21 bronze badges. Why did you assume there was no oxygen?
Why not assume the simplest: that there is noxious components to the air? So how are the human pilots especially the female seen several times without any mask?? There shouldn't be high levels of CO2 on an undeveloped planet that is lush and green with giant trees. Add a comment. Active Oldest Votes. Why can't human breathe in Pandora: The high concentration of carbon dioxide in the Pandoran atmosphere makes it extremely poisonous to humans, rendering them unconscious in about 20 seconds and causing death in about 4 minutes.
So Oxygen is present there and that's why combustion is possible. Improve this answer. Community Bot 1. Mistu4u Mistu4u I don't really think you can get much more of a textbook answer than that! Liath, Absolutely.. As it is an imaginary planet, every detail fact is derived from the works related to it. Exposing pretty much anything that level of hydrogen sulfide would make it stink to high-heaven to a human.
I guess they have to deal with a lot of global warming for that excessive CO2 — azerafati. It may be worth pointing out that the Wiki is quoting from what appears to be an un-official book: james-camerons-avatar. Tina Wales Tina Wales 21 1 1 bronze badge.
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