<p>We already have a model of an atmosphere-stripped Earth at hand, it's called <strong>Mars</strong>. Essentially, the loss of air on Mars meant more things didn't happen any longer than did happen. Erosion and corrosion processes caused by the air -- and by fine particles carried by the air-- largely stopped with the loss of a thick atmosphere, effectively freezing mineral deposits. As a result, explorations of the Martian surface may be used to identify areas that were exposed versus those that were protected (as if by a body of water).</p>
<p>For example, we may look at <a href="https://space.stackexchange.com/a/40874/28871">this answer</a> at Space Exploration Stack Exchange, which summarizes the minerals found at various depths in the Gale Crater on Mars. Note especially the relative concentrations of mafic rock and iron oxides; the former is converted to the latter upon exposure to an oxidizing atmosphere. We see that the upper reaches, which likely would have been exposed when Mars had a thick atmosphere, still have the iron oxides produced by oxidation of the mafic rock, whereas the mafic matter below which might have been protected by a lake has remained largely intact.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-13T05:02:21.363Z
I agree that Mars is stripped of air, but I am asking what if all of the air, even the one in the crust, were to be sucked out.
Aster17
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-12T23:15:15.803Z
2021-08-13T01:22:19.437Z
2021-08-13T01:22:19.437Z
Oscar Lanzi
<p>I wanted to know : what if someone pulled a really strong vacuum and prevented any air to enter. Would the earth be destroyed or nothing much would happen? I am not talking about the people and other living organisms, but what would happen to the planet itself.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance.
(Sorry if off-topic)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-12T17:17:07.997Z
The Earth's atmosphere is already pulled on by a really strong vacuum, a vacuum whose quality is orders of magnitude higher than any vacuum that can be created in a laboratory. Yet the Earth only loses a tiny, tiny bit of its atmosphere per year to space.
David Hammen
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-13T05:03:57.623Z
@DavidHammen I agree with your point.  But what if we pulled a vacuum stronger than that of space, and sucked air even from the core. I get it that the vacuum in space is stronger than anything achievable by scientists, but what if we could pull a vacuum stronger than that, hypothetically speaking.
Aster17
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-13T09:23:07.077Z
Or perhaps it belongs to Space Exploration because of the relevance of this situation to Mars.
Oscar Lanzi
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-08-13T09:44:33.210Z
@gansub Thanks for letting me know which Stack Exchange it belongs to. I will delete this question shortly.
Aster17
<earth-system><air>
What would happen to the earth if we removed nearly all of the air?
Aster17
# What would happen to the earth if we removed nearly all of the air?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-08-12)

I wanted to know : what if someone pulled a really strong vacuum and prevented any air to enter. Would the earth be destroyed or nothing much would happen? I am not talking about the people and other living organisms, but what would happen to the planet itself.

Thanks in advance.
(Sorry if off-topic)

**Tags:** earth-system, air

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The Earth's atmosphere is already pulled on by a really strong vacuum, a vacuum whose quality is orders of magnitude higher than any vacuum that can be created in a laboratory. Yet the Earth only loses a tiny, tiny bit of its atmosphere per year to space.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 I agree with your point.  But what if we pulled a vacuum stronger than that of space, and sucked air even from the core. I get it that the vacuum in space is stronger than anything achievable by scientists, but what if we could pull a vacuum stronger than that, hypothetically speaking.  
> **username_2**: Or perhaps it belongs to Space Exploration because of the relevance of this situation to Mars.  
> **username_0**: @gansub Thanks for letting me know which Stack Exchange it belongs to. I will delete this question shortly.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-08-12. Score: 3

We already have a model of an atmosphere-stripped Earth at hand, it's called **Mars**. Essentially, the loss of air on Mars meant more things didn't happen any longer than did happen. Erosion and corrosion processes caused by the air -- and by fine particles carried by the air-- largely stopped with the loss of a thick atmosphere, effectively freezing mineral deposits. As a result, explorations of the Martian surface may be used to identify areas that were exposed versus those that were protected (as if by a body of water).

For example, we may look at [this answer](https://space.stackexchange.com/a/40874/28871) at Space Exploration Stack Exchange, which summarizes the minerals found at various depths in the Gale Crater on Mars. Note especially the relative concentrations of mafic rock and iron oxides; the former is converted to the latter upon exposure to an oxidizing atmosphere. We see that the upper reaches, which likely would have been exposed when Mars had a thick atmosphere, still have the iron oxides produced by oxidation of the mafic rock, whereas the mafic matter below which might have been protected by a lake has remained largely intact.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I agree that Mars is stripped of air, but I am asking what if all of the air, even the one in the crust, were to be sucked out.  

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