2025/04/02 by Mark I. Richardson, Samaneh Ansari, Richardson, Mark I. +17 · 2 voices · 1 citation
Physics and Astronomy · #Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP) #FOS: Physical sciences #Geophysics (physics.geo-ph) #astro-ph.EP #physics.geo-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2504.01455
arxiv published 2025/04/02 · arxiv updated 2026/03/04
Surface release of radiatively active particles, with high infrared- (IR-)to-visible extinction ratios, has been proposed as a method of warming Mars. However, to warm Mars using aerosols, particles released locally must disperse globally. Here we provide an initial reference study in a plume tracking, dry Martian atmospheric model to address this question. The winds that transport aerosols respond to the aerosol's IR forcing, implying strong radiative-dynamical feedbacks (RDF). We investigate RDF from surface release of two particle compositions: carbon (graphene) and metal (Al). Self-lofting helps particles rise and spread locally and regionally, and the Hadley cell strengthens under warming, aiding latitudinal mixing. Within our model, Mars RDF enable engineered-aerosol warming. Warming is slightly greater for three-dimensional vs. 1D-models and also depends on spectral resolution of radiative transfer. We assess implications for Mars warming. Many open atmospheric science questions remain, including the role of agglomeration, dry-deposition rate uncertainty, and modeling water cycle feedbacks.