Atmospheric dynamics of first steps toward terraforming Mars

Abstract: Warming Mars' surface could be a step toward making it suitable for life, but would represent a major science and engineering challenge. To warm Mars using engineered aerosol, particles released locally must disperse globally. The winds that transport aerosol respond to the aerosol's radiative forcing, implying strong radiative-dynamical feedbacks. Using a plume-tracking climate model without a water cycle, we investigate radiative-dynamical feedback from surface release of two particle compositions: graphene (which attenuates UV) and aluminum. Both compositions can give fast global warming of ~30 K. We infer that 2 liters/second release rate of graphene made from Mars' atmosphere via CO2-electrolysis could double Mars' greenhouse effect (+5 K). Self-lofting helps particles rise and spread. The Hadley cell strengthens under warming, aiding mixing. Warming can be focused in latitude by tuning particle size. Within our model, Mars radiative-dynamical feedbacks enable engineered-aerosol warming. Challenges remain, including functionalization, agglomeration, dry-deposition experiments, and modeling water cycle feedbacks.