Ok say you actually successfully introduced a breathable atmosphere to Mars, what about the planets' lack of a magnetic field such as that found on Earth? Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't our planets' magnetic field help protect us from all kinds of cosmic-nasties, and so would terraforming Mars actually be a pointless endevour without a protective magnetic field being generated by the planet?
2006-07-09 00:45:06 · 8 answers · asked by Andy 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
I love the idea of terraforming Mars. But I agree with you that it would be doomed to failure. Magnetic field or not, the gravity is also less. The atmosphere seems to have bled away. If we somehow gave it oxygen, I suspect it would also bleed away.
2006-07-09 05:14:16 · answer #1 · answered by Dave C 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
no longer for a "short-time period" terraformation (tens of thousands of years). An Earth-like ecosystem may itself protect an floor existence from cosmic radiation - the inability of a magnetic field may change into severe only over the years because the photo voltaic wind and cosmic rays stripped the ambience away, as is concept to have actual occurred in Mars's historic previous. As has been stated above, the magnetic field problem is in all probability a rounding mistakes contained in the price of terraformation, and entirely irrelevant over the years frames as large as any previous human civilization has existed.
2016-11-30 22:16:12 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Terraforming is just science fiction; the energy required to make it happen is just too great. If there is going to be any colonization of Mars, you'll see people living in big bubbles to keep a breathable atmosphere and keep out the unpleasnat radiation. Did you see the movie "Total Recall"? Kinda like that.
2006-07-09 14:48:48 · answer #3 · answered by n0witrytobeamused 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It may not be possible to give the planet a magnetic field but it is probably a lot easier to have electromagnetic shielding locally.
2006-07-09 00:58:24 · answer #4 · answered by Gavin T 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A small sheet of aluminum foil will protect against a great deal of radiation, a small layer of lead will work against almost all radiation and several feet of rock will work great as well.
With Tesla Coils we could ionize the atmosphere, but I don't know if that would help.
2006-07-09 01:00:36 · answer #5 · answered by insideoutsock 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Agreed, and you're not going to create that magnetic field unless you can somehow imbue Mars with a molten core all over again! If you can do that, you can do anything.
2006-07-09 00:49:01 · answer #6 · answered by wild_eep 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If we could live underground and get power from the sun we'd just have to worry about the water.
2006-07-09 00:55:05 · answer #7 · answered by Talach_Ninneed 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
n0witrytobea is right
2006-07-11 07:51:18 · answer #8 · answered by QISHC 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋