<p>Of course! Actually this is one of the possible ways we have in order to make Mars friendlier 
to humans. This technique is called Terraformation and it inludes the altering of the Mars surface's albedo. However, the feasibility of this plan is yet questionable and there are maybe better ways to achieve this increase in the temperature like CO$_2$ emissions. <a href="http://www.nexialquest.com/The%20Terraformation%20of%20Worlds.pdf" rel="nofollow">Here</a> is a nice article discussing exactly this subject.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-10T18:36:12.620Z
2014-07-10T18:36:12.620Z
Chris Papageorgakis
<p>Asphalt roads do a great job at <a href="http://www.asla.org/lamag/lam07/february/ecology.html" rel="nofollow">heating up cities</a>! Mars can actually get up to 80F, so part of the challenge is preventing losing that heat in the low pressure <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_of_Mars" rel="nofollow">atmosphere</a>. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-10T23:55:40.783Z
2014-07-10T23:55:40.783Z
Aaron
<p>If Mars were coated in a dark substance that absorbs sunlight (including infrared light), would this heat up Mars?  I am envisioning a fine dust that is dispersed into the atmosphere, but possibly settles on Mars's surface all around.  If we were able to change the albedo, possibly down to as low as 1%, would that make Mars habitable (temperature wise)?  If the albedo were changed all the way to 1%, could this even make Mars too hot?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-10T14:50:01.930Z
Whatever dark, fine dust you drop on Mars will have to compete with the massive quantity of, presumably lighter, fine dust that is already there.
Wayfaring Stranger
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-11T18:48:27.490Z
One of the hopes is that a slight boost in temperature would vaporize frozen CO2 and trigger a runaway greenhouse effect. In my opinion this is unlikely. See http://hopsblog-hop.blogspot.com/2014/02/terraforming-mars-vs-orbital-habs.html
HopDavid
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-11T18:53:03.667Z
Mars surface area is about 145 million square kilometers. Covering this would take a massive amount of black stuff. And once covered, winds would mix it with martian dust. It would take a astronomically massive amount.
HopDavid
<mars><temperature><albedo>
Would a low albedo substance warm up Mars?
Jonathan
# Would a low albedo substance warm up Mars?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-07-10)

If Mars were coated in a dark substance that absorbs sunlight (including infrared light), would this heat up Mars? I am envisioning a fine dust that is dispersed into the atmosphere, but possibly settles on Mars's surface all around. If we were able to change the albedo, possibly down to as low as 1%, would that make Mars habitable (temperature wise)? If the albedo were changed all the way to 1%, could this even make Mars too hot?

**Tags:** mars, temperature, albedo

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Whatever dark, fine dust you drop on Mars will have to compete with the massive quantity of, presumably lighter, fine dust that is already there.  
> **username_2**: One of the hopes is that a slight boost in temperature would vaporize frozen CO2 and trigger a runaway greenhouse effect. In my opinion this is unlikely. See http://hopsblog-hop.blogspot.com/2014/02/terraforming-mars-vs-orbital-habs.html  
> **username_2**: Mars surface area is about 145 million square kilometers. Covering this would take a massive amount of black stuff. And once covered, winds would mix it with martian dust. It would take a astronomically massive amount.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-07-10. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

Of course! Actually this is one of the possible ways we have in order to make Mars friendlier
to humans. This technique is called Terraformation and it inludes the altering of the Mars surface's albedo. However, the feasibility of this plan is yet questionable and there are maybe better ways to achieve this increase in the temperature like CO$\_2$ emissions. [Here](http://www.nexialquest.com/The%20Terraformation%20of%20Worlds.pdf) is a nice article discussing exactly this subject.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2014-07-10. Score: 0

Asphalt roads do a great job at [heating up cities](http://www.asla.org/lamag/lam07/february/ecology.html)! Mars can actually get up to 80F, so part of the challenge is preventing losing that heat in the low pressure [atmosphere](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_of_Mars).


---

