The Greenhouse Effect on Mars

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When learning about terraforming, many ask the question "Why Mars?" The simple answer being that, Mars is the planet closest in characteristics to Earth out of all the planets in our solar system. To elaborate, numerous fluvial features bring forth the idea that Mars once had a much denser atmosphere, this signifying that the planet still contains CO2. The factoring question in terraforming Mars is whether or not the CO2 is in liable form that is accessible to the planetary engineers.

If this statement was proven true, and the planetary engineers had the ability to somehow store these gases, the planet’s atmosphere could hypothetically become controlled by the subsequent release of CO2, enabling a steady heat to which life could begin to form again. Eventually, the accumulation of plant-life, animals, and heat would create enough natural CO2 that we would no longer need to alter the conditions by releasing the stored CO2. This process contains a catch; if the balance of CO2 is too great, this could create a runaway greenhouse effect with the planet’s heat would constantly increase. If this were to happen, Mars would share the characteristics similar to Venus resulting in an uncontrollable and uninhabitable atmosphere.

This process is known as the ‘greenhouse effect,’ a procedure in which a planet obtains heat from its atmosphere. Even though the idea of enabling an anthropogenic greenhouse effect on Mars is fairly recent, the idea has been around since the early 1800s when a man named Joseph Fourier first discovered the process.

Although this balance is a challenge to predict, researchers are working on collecting more information about this process. The results of an artificial greenhouse effect are challenging to understand on Earth since our atmosphere is naturally adaptable to us. In objection, we can take notes of the runaway greenhouses effect on Venus and possible even test out our ideas there.

For example, the initial challenge we must face is to determine how and with what device we need in order to store the CO2 gases. Furthermore, we must then determine how to release these gases in a way that can create a gradual heat over time. In accomplishing those undetermined ideas, we then must discover how much CO2 we will need and how long this gas must be artificially distributed before it results in the creation of a naturally stable, heated environment.

The diagram below represents the process of artificially distributing the CO2 to eventually create an atmosphere that will warm itself naturally.