Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Researchers led by Professor Robert Olszewski from Warsaw University of Technology have analysed how much greenhouse warming, specifically through increased CO₂ levels, Mars would need to support tree growth.
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Findings suggest that conditions suitable for trees on Mars would not first appear near the equatorial "tropics" but in the low-lying Hellas Basin in the southern hemisphere, which could warm sufficiently with enhanced greenhouse gases.
The study examined the energy exchange on Mars’ surface, factoring in CO₂ condensation, evaporation, subsurface heat, and atmospheric circulation, to estimate conditions needed for a sustainable growing environment.
The team used historical data from NASA’s Viking Mars landers in the 1970s to simulate past, present, and potential future temperature and pressure conditions on Mars.
The research indicates that, to support plant life, Mars would need elevated atmospheric pressures, higher CO₂, and adequate temperatures, with at least a 110-sol (Martian day) growing season for trees.
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Mars' southern hemisphere, with a longer and warmer summer due to Mars' orbital eccentricity, would offer a prime initial environment for trees, specifically in areas like the Hellas Basin with lower elevations.
While Mars lacks the atmosphere to sustain life currently, the study outlines temperature and atmospheric benchmarks necessary for potential future growth, with conditions in low-elevation areas offering the best prospects for Mars' first tree.
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