Final answer:
Supplemental oxygen requirements at altitudes above 14,000 feet are essential to prevent AMS and ensure physiological oxygen saturation due to lower atmospheric pressure. At Everest summit levels, climbers adjust their oxygen mixture to compensate for the reduced partial pressure of oxygen. The body's hemoglobin saturation is much lower at high altitudes, leading to the need for supplemental oxygen.
Step-by-step explanation:
The supplemental oxygen requirements for climbers and individuals at altitudes above 14,000 feet are crucial for preventing acute mountain sickness (AMS) and ensuring enough oxygen is available to maintain physiological functions. As altitude increases, atmospheric pressure decreases, leading to a lower partial pressure of oxygen. The body's hemoglobin saturation at high altitudes is notably less than at sea level, making it more challenging to achieve oxygen saturation. On mountains like Everest, where the pressure is about 0.30 atmospheres, climbers often need to carry bottled oxygen supplies. This oxygen must be metered to ensure the climber's partial pressure of oxygen intake remains equivalent to sea level conditions, despite only 40% of the inhaled oxygen being utilized.
At altitudes like Mt. Everest's summit, the atmospheric pressure is approximately 3.30×104 N/m², and climbers need to adjust their oxygen intake accordingly. For a mountain climber to maintain the same partial pressure of oxygen as at sea level, where the atmospheric pressure is roughly 1.01x105 N/m², the oxygen mixture should be adjusted to have a higher percentage of oxygen than the ambient 20.9% in the air. Moreover, the severe drying of breathing passages, a common problem at high altitudes, occurs due to the low atmospheric pressure and subsequent lower humidity.
For climbers engaging in strenuous activities, such as climbing stairs or ascending high altitudes, the requirement for oxygen can double. Therefore, for a 10.0-hour climb, the calculation of needed oxygen should take the increased consumption rate and altitude factors into account. Additionally, the climber's efficiency and work done while climbing can be measured by considering the mass of the climber and equipment, as well as the altitude gained during the climb.