How Can Low Altitude Affect an Area?
You may have heard of altitude sickness at high altitude, but you may not be aware that low altitude also has health effects. The higher oxygen levels and humidity at low altitude can be good or not so good for your health.
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More Oxygen
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The presence of sea air means far more than breathing in its spray and smelling the ocean. It also means higher oxygen levels because of the low altitude and because algae produce about half of the oxygen in Earth's atmosphere. Lower birth weights of babies at high altitude are attributed to lower oxygen levels during their gestation. High-altitude babies also have other issues connected with low oxygen.
A car runs on a richer mix of fuel and oxygen at low altitude, and some adjustment to the mix may be beneficial at higher altitudes.
Higher Humidity
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Atmospheric scientists use the term "relative humidity," and altitude and humidity are not always related. People with asthma or allergies may find it easier to breathe in humid areas. In tropical regions, lower altitudes are associated with higher disease rates because of humidity that enables fungus and bacteria to flourish.
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Effects on Sports
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Low altitude areas have greater air resistance. So athletes who rely on speed can expect to be a little slower. Baseballs used in the high-altitude Denver, Colorado, are kept in a humidor at 50 percent relative humidity, making them slightly heavier and less bouncy, and making them behave in the same way they would at lower altitudes.
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