At atmospheric pressure and room temperature, Carbon dioxide (CO₂) has a higher solubility coefficient (0.54) than Oxygen (0.024). Thus carbon dioxide can dissolve to a higher amount in plasma than oxygen. Though normally the solubility of these gases is not affected by pressure changes, in certain conditions, atmospheric pressure does play a part. Thus in high altitudes, the atmospheric pressure can decrease considerably and thus affecting the partial pressure of oxygen resulting in lower amount of oxygen dissolved in the fluid layer of the alveolus. This affects newcomers to high altitudes, where they can feel faint and nauseated. In contrast, people who live in these high altitudes compensate by increasing the number of red cells and haemoglobin concentration.