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Science

Maedhros

(10,007 posts)

7. There are limited options.

Reply to retrowire (Reply #3)

Mon Aug 17, 2015, 08:41 PM

Aug 2015

One is to increase the planet's albedo (the amount of sunlight reflected away from, and not absorbed by, the planet's surface), which is what the tropospheric particulate matter is for. I suppose one could coat the surface of the planet with a reflective material (e.g. snow).

Another would be to chemically remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere (if that is the source of the warming). This would require a very long time frame, but could be achieved under certain circumstances - such as adding calcium to the oceans, promoting the absorption of carbon dioxide into precipitated calcium carbonate (i.e. limestone).

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I need assistance with a question regarding Terraforming... [View all] retrowire Aug 2015 OP

Spread kilotons of fine particulate matter in the upper atmosphere. Maedhros Aug 2015 #1

hmmm... retrowire Aug 2015 #3

There are limited options. Maedhros Aug 2015 #7

What about a means retrowire Aug 2015 #8

Given enough energy, it could be done. Maedhros Aug 2015 #11

Wow! Thanks so much! retrowire Aug 2015 #12

Don't thank me - thank Niven. Maedhros Aug 2015 #18

I don't think 'gargantuan' begins to cover it muriel_volestrangler Aug 2015 #20

Here's what I remember: Maedhros Aug 2015 #21

'pressed against' meaning 'floating in it', really muriel_volestrangler Aug 2015 #22

That can be done by using an asteroid to transfer momentum from a gas giant to your world Fumesucker Aug 2015 #28

Sulfuric acid has been suggested RufusTFirefly Aug 2015 #2

Anyway to do it without blocking out the sky? n/t retrowire Aug 2015 #4

Not really Hydra Aug 2015 #5

Damn, well retrowire Aug 2015 #6

Ya, but unintended consequences Hydra Aug 2015 #9

Hmm, I didn't consider the "every reaction has an equal and opposite reaction" clause... retrowire Aug 2015 #13

I'm not an expert either Hydra Aug 2015 #15

Well I thank you anyways! retrowire Aug 2015 #16

It's not like we're talking about the sky turning black Silent3 Aug 2015 #10

Huh. Okay, that's true.... retrowire Aug 2015 #14

Not an expert by any means, I doubt I could do the math... Thor_MN Aug 2015 #17

Okay. Very, very outlandish. "Thermoelectric effect." DetlefK Aug 2015 #19

This might help... NeoGreen Aug 2015 #23

Here is some info on terraforming SoLeftIAmRight Aug 2015 #24

Great information. Bonobo Aug 2015 #33

Could be: The expansion of the planet while it cools, would move particles (of matter and force) DhhD Aug 2015 #25

Carbon nanofibres made from CO2 in the air Agnosticsherbet Aug 2015 #26

Bad idea. DetlefK Aug 2015 #31

Increase the albedo to reflect more ligh back into space. On Earth if we could spread the ice sheets MillennialDem Aug 2015 #27

How??? DetlefK Aug 2015 #30

I didn't say it was easily doable :p I imagine massive bulldozer operations could push them to MillennialDem Aug 2015 #32

"The most efficient way would be to dim the star" said Tom darkly Fumesucker Aug 2015 #29