<p>We are already knowledgeable about some aspects of the requirements needed to terraform Mars &amp; the Moon. As @David_Garcia_Bodego mentions in his comments, gravity is a major factor in celestial bodies being able to retain an atmosphere.</p>

<p>This is because the gravity of a celestial body affects the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escape_velocity" rel="nofollow noreferrer">escape velocity</a>  of that body. The other important factor is the surface temperature of the celestial body. This is why <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titan_(moon)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Titan</a>, a satellite of Saturn, has a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_of_Titan" rel="nofollow noreferrer">thick atmosphere</a>, despite having a similar escape velocity to the Moon (Luna), <a href="https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/31909/why-is-titan-able-to-maintain-an-atmosphere-and-not-luna">it is much colder and has a thick atmosphere</a>.</p>

<p>Another factor that assists Titan in maintaining a thick atmosphere is its distance from the Sun and the weaker effect of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_wind" rel="nofollow noreferrer">solar wind</a> at that distance. Also, Titan is protected by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetosphere_of_Saturn" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Saturn's magnetosphere</a>.</p>

<p>I recommend reading:</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/39474/what-will-happen-to-the-air-released-from-the-moons-surface"><em>What will happen to the air released from the Moon's Surface?</em></a></li>
<li><a href="https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/12576/could-the-moon-keep-an-atmosphere/12588#12588"><em>Could the Moon keep an atmosphere?</em></a></li>
</ul>

<p>and the links contained within those questions.</p>

<p>Yes, these questions discuss the Moon and not Mars, but the information provided in those questions is applicable to Mars.</p>

<p>The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmospheric_escape" rel="nofollow noreferrer">graph</a> below provides a visual of the gases a celestial body can retain in a atmosphere based on escape velocity and temperature.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/XlvLf.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/XlvLf.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Factors that act in favor of Mars being able to have a thick atmosphere are:</p>

<ul>
<li>Mars is farther away from the Sun than Earth &amp; Luna so it experiences
a weaker solar wind.</li>
<li>The surface temperature of Mars is cold, which reduces the energy of
atmospheric molecules.</li>
</ul>

<p>Factors that act against Mars being able to have a thick atmosphere are:</p>

<ul>
<li>The gravity of Mars and subsequently the escape velocity of Mars is small.</li>
<li>The lack of a magnetosphere to shield the atmosphere from solar wind.</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-22T12:07:44.557Z
2019-10-29T02:54:29.967Z
2019-10-29T02:54:29.967Z
Fred
<p>This is an Earth Science site, not a Mars Science site. However, there will be a manned expedition to Mars within the next 25 years provided a world war doesn't throw a spanner in the works. They won't be exploring methods of thickening the Martian atmosphere, partly because it is impossible to thicken it to any useful degree, by which I mean to a degree which would enable astronauts to wander about in the open without wearing pressure suits.</p>

<p>Even if you  could find a way to melt all the <span class="math-container">$\small\mathsf{CO_2}$</span> in the polar caps (mainly the south pole), there isn't enough to create an atmosphere as substantial as you would find at the top of Mount Everest. There might be enough to raise average temperatures by a few degrees, but what use would that be? The  first astronauts will be doing the usual things. mainly geological exploration, particularly with a view to establishing whether there was ever any primitive, unicellular life on the planet.</p>

<p>Another task will be to find sites which might be suitable for establishing a permanent base, one of the main requirements being a good water supply. They might also experiment with ways of using local materials for building purposes, in preparation for future expeditions building a permanent base. The fact that liquid water can't exist in the open might be a problem when it comes to making cement. The Romans made an excellent cement out of volcanic tuff, so in the right place there could be plenty of that. Measuring the effects of the Martian environment on their bodies will take up much of the astronaut's  time. They will not be exploring methods of geo-engineering. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-22T06:40:52.053Z
Main problem is not the gasses themselves, it is gravity! The gravity on Mars is 3.711m/sg2, so a third that the one we have on the Earth. That one is not enough to keep one breathable atmosphere. Even if we try to Earth-form it, the gasses on the artificial atmosphere will be lost due to the low gravity.
David García Bodego
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-22T08:35:56.407Z
Martian atmosphere is mostly CO2 ,so whatever you do to it,  it won't be breathable however high the pressure. In small quantities the astronauts can refine it to make it breathable, but only in small quantities.
Michael Walsby
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-22T09:11:47.843Z
Can you edit your questions to add some supporting sources for your claims?
samcarter_is_at_topanswers.xyz
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-22T09:22:33.347Z
That´s why I am saying `"Even if we try to Earth-form it..."`. [Gravity of Mars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_of_Mars), [Gravity of Earth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_of_Earth), [Mars Terraforming](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_of_Mars)
David García Bodego
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-22T12:49:29.603Z
Terraforming Mars is for science fiction. This site is supposed to deal  with the real world. I say again: the expedition to Mars will  not  be carrying out any activity connected to terraforming.
Michael Walsby
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-24T15:32:19.467Z
@DavidGarcíaBodego pretty sure the gravity of Mars _would_ be strong enough to keep a useful atmosphere for at least several thousand years, if we could create it in the first place. And even an unbreathable atmosphere of e.g. sulfur hexafluoride would be useful indeed, as it would allow using much less difficult construction (only _reasonably air-tight_, not 100% pressure-tight), simple breathing apparatuses rather than much more awkward pressure suits, and the atmosphere would provide thermal insulation and radiation shielding.
leftaroundabout
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-21T18:54:36.727Z
2020-01-05T19:28:01.413Z
2020-01-05T19:28:01.413Z
Michael Walsby
<p>if we were to send a mission to mars (unlimited budget WE WISH!) to explore different methods that would enable us to thicken the martian atmosphere, what different types of data should this mission capture and how could this help is in exploring potential methods to thicken the martian atmosphere. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-22T04:07:57.803Z
Despite this site being called Earth Science, some question about planetary science & other planets can be on top here. You may want to see what information is available on SE Space Exploration looking at questions that ask about Mars' atmosphere & terraforming, such [*Would Terraforming Mars Be Possible*](https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/634/would-terraforming-mars-be-possible).
Fred
<atmosphere><mars>
Thickening Mars's Atmosphere
Ahmed Abdulla
# Thickening Mars's Atmosphere

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-10-21)

if we were to send a mission to mars (unlimited budget WE WISH!) to explore different methods that would enable us to thicken the martian atmosphere, what different types of data should this mission capture and how could this help is in exploring potential methods to thicken the martian atmosphere.

**Tags:** atmosphere, mars

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Despite this site being called Earth Science, some question about planetary science & other planets can be on top here. You may want to see what information is available on SE Space Exploration looking at questions that ask about Mars' atmosphere & terraforming, such [*Would Terraforming Mars Be Possible*](https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/634/would-terraforming-mars-be-possible).  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-10-22. Score: 3

We are already knowledgeable about some aspects of the requirements needed to terraform Mars & the Moon. As @username_3\_Garcia\_Bodego mentions in his comments, gravity is a major factor in celestial bodies being able to retain an atmosphere.

This is because the gravity of a celestial body affects the [escape velocity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escape_velocity) of that body. The other important factor is the surface temperature of the celestial body. This is why [Titan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titan_(moon)), a satellite of Saturn, has a [thick atmosphere](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_of_Titan), despite having a similar escape velocity to the Moon (Luna), [it is much colder and has a thick atmosphere](https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/31909/why-is-titan-able-to-maintain-an-atmosphere-and-not-luna).

Another factor that assists Titan in maintaining a thick atmosphere is its distance from the Sun and the weaker effect of the [solar wind](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_wind) at that distance. Also, Titan is protected by [Saturn's magnetosphere](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetosphere_of_Saturn).

I recommend reading:

* [*What will happen to the air released from the Moon's Surface?*](https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/39474/what-will-happen-to-the-air-released-from-the-moons-surface)
* [*Could the Moon keep an atmosphere?*](https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/12576/could-the-moon-keep-an-atmosphere/12588#12588)

and the links contained within those questions.

Yes, these questions discuss the Moon and not Mars, but the information provided in those questions is applicable to Mars.

The [graph](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmospheric_escape) below provides a visual of the gases a celestial body can retain in a atmosphere based on escape velocity and temperature.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/XlvLf.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/XlvLf.png)

Factors that act in favor of Mars being able to have a thick atmosphere are:

* Mars is farther away from the Sun than Earth & Luna so it experiences
  a weaker solar wind.
* The surface temperature of Mars is cold, which reduces the energy of
  atmospheric molecules.

Factors that act against Mars being able to have a thick atmosphere are:

* The gravity of Mars and subsequently the escape velocity of Mars is small.
* The lack of a magnetosphere to shield the atmosphere from solar wind.


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-10-21. Score: 1

This is an Earth Science site, not a Mars Science site. However, there will be a manned expedition to Mars within the next 25 years provided a world war doesn't throw a spanner in the works. They won't be exploring methods of thickening the Martian atmosphere, partly because it is impossible to thicken it to any useful degree, by which I mean to a degree which would enable astronauts to wander about in the open without wearing pressure suits.

Even if you could find a way to melt all the $\small\mathsf{CO\_2}$ in the polar caps (mainly the south pole), there isn't enough to create an atmosphere as substantial as you would find at the top of Mount Everest. There might be enough to raise average temperatures by a few degrees, but what use would that be? The first astronauts will be doing the usual things. mainly geological exploration, particularly with a view to establishing whether there was ever any primitive, unicellular life on the planet.

Another task will be to find sites which might be suitable for establishing a permanent base, one of the main requirements being a good water supply. They might also experiment with ways of using local materials for building purposes, in preparation for future expeditions building a permanent base. The fact that liquid water can't exist in the open might be a problem when it comes to making cement. The Romans made an excellent cement out of volcanic tuff, so in the right place there could be plenty of that. Measuring the effects of the Martian environment on their bodies will take up much of the astronaut's time. They will not be exploring methods of geo-engineering.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Main problem is not the gasses themselves, it is gravity! The gravity on Mars is 3.711m/sg2, so a third that the one we have on the Earth. That one is not enough to keep one breathable atmosphere. Even if we try to Earth-form it, the gasses on the artificial atmosphere will be lost due to the low gravity.  
> **username_2**: Martian atmosphere is mostly CO2 ,so whatever you do to it,  it won't be breathable however high the pressure. In small quantities the astronauts can refine it to make it breathable, but only in small quantities.  
> **username_4**: Can you edit your questions to add some supporting sources for your claims?  
> **username_3**: That´s why I am saying `"Even if we try to Earth-form it..."`. [Gravity of Mars](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_of_Mars), [Gravity of Earth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_of_Earth), [Mars Terraforming](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_of_Mars)  
> **username_2**: Terraforming Mars is for science fiction. This site is supposed to deal  with the real world. I say again: the expedition to Mars will  not  be carrying out any activity connected to terraforming.  
> **username_5**: @username_3 pretty sure the gravity of Mars _would_ be strong enough to keep a useful atmosphere for at least several thousand years, if we could create it in the first place. And even an unbreathable atmosphere of e.g. sulfur hexafluoride would be useful indeed, as it would allow using much less difficult construction (only _reasonably air-tight_, not 100% pressure-tight), simple breathing apparatuses rather than much more awkward pressure suits, and the atmosphere would provide thermal insulation and radiation shielding.  

---

