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Originally Posted by Letum
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Originally Posted by August
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Originally Posted by ASWnut101
Yep, that would happen. But you all must know this: Mars has an atmosphere ( Link). All you need to do, and I know I'm making this sound easy, is to alter the atmospheric composition to an "Earth Composition." You would also need to find a way to raise the atmospheric pressure to a livable level. |
So atmospheric erosion would effect pressure rather than composition? |
No, solar winds do not effect pressure directly.
Mars has a atmosphere much thinner than Earths, so there is less pressure. The atmosphere above us on Earth exerts a surprising 10.2 tonnes per meter squared at sea level. On mars the atmosphere gives less than 0.1 tonne per meter squared, as a result we (humans and animals) would "inflate" under the relative vacuum.
Solar winds do, however sweep the outer layers of atmosphere out into space. This isn't a issue for earth as our molten core provides a magnetic field which deflects the solar winds, but mars has a smaller, solid core (or semi-liquid) which only provides a weak magnetic field. As a result it has lost at least 1/3 of it's atmosphere; therefore reducing atmospheric pressure indirectly.
To create a sustainable atmosphere we would first need a strong magnetic field for mars, this isn't a huge problem if you can create enough power, however it would need far more power than every power plant together have ever created so far. |
Actually, wouldn't it affect both?
Because there is no magnetic field, would the solar winds just erode the upper layers of the atmosphere, decreasing the amount of atmosphere on the planet. Hence, less atmosphere would mean less pressure, right?
Also, what is Mars' core made from?