Increasing albedo of dark volcanic plain

  • Context: Writing: Input Wanted 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Nik_2213
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Albedo
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on strategies to increase the albedo of dark volcanic plains on a lifeless, anoxic planet to mitigate excessive heat. Participants propose scattering pale sand to enhance cooling and explore optimal particle sizes for effective coverage. Hydroponics and greenhouse cultivation are suggested as methods for growing plants, with the need for supplemental oxygen due to the planet's atmosphere. The conversation also touches on the processing of silica sand for agricultural use and the potential of using glass wool as a soil replacement.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of planetary atmospheres and their composition, specifically anoxic environments.
  • Knowledge of hydroponics and greenhouse cultivation techniques.
  • Familiarity with albedo effects and their impact on temperature regulation.
  • Experience with materials science, particularly regarding silica sand and glass wool.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research optimal particle sizes for increasing albedo in volcanic environments.
  • Explore advanced hydroponics systems suitable for low-oxygen atmospheres.
  • Investigate the manufacturing process of glass wool for potential agricultural applications.
  • Study the effects of albedo modification on temperature regulation in extraterrestrial environments.
USEFUL FOR

Astronomers, planetary scientists, agricultural engineers, and anyone involved in extraterrestrial habitat development and climate management.

Nik_2213
Messages
1,218
Reaction score
493
My heroes have found a barely-tolerable 'greenhouse' planet, the upper part of a vast volcanic shield having acceptable temperature and pressure (*). The anoxic atmosphere is N2+CO2, but holds enough H2O for nightly dew near the summit.

So, can condense that, use for hydroponics, irrigate green-houses etc. Electrolyse some water for oxygen for habitats and, yes, crops, as latter need it to respire through the night.

Beyond the volcanic massif, they have ready access to dune-fields of silica sand. In fact, they're smelting such to glazing panels...

There's a suggestion that long days' heating of dark, low-albedo volcanic plain surrounding the base might be 'improved', mitigated by scattering pale sand...

Clearly, 'raw' sand would tend to vanish down irregularities in the old lava, while 'ping-pong' or 'marble' spheroids may be too big, so wasteful...

Okay, the experimental approach is to lay out 'test plots' of different 'gauge' material, see how they compare. Is there a better way to estimate 'mini-max' benefit and predict the 'sweet spot' ?
--
*) Ambient pressure is 'SCUBA', with some helium in the habs' mix to mitigate the several Bar...
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Nik_2213 said:
*) Ambient pressure is 'SCUBA', with some helium in the habs' mix to mitigate the several Bar...
What does this mean?

No life already on planet?
Water condensing on the lava would tend to react with it an vanish from the atmosphere in a weathering process. This would tend to make it more useful for (earth) plants.

Nik_2213 said:
There's a suggestion that long days' heating of dark, low-albedo volcanic plain surrounding the base might be 'improved', mitigated by scattering pale sand...
This means it get too hot?
Growing plants (if possible) on the surface would mitigate that.

Nik_2213 said:
way to estimate 'mini-max' benefit and predict the 'sweet spot' ?
Sweet spot for what?
 
Thank you for taking an interest in this topic.

The helium in the habs' breathing mix ? 'Technical' divers do this to mitigate oxygen / nitrogen toxicity.

Planet is anoxic, lifeless. That night dew shows there is still a meagre water-cycle. Not quite enough CO2+H20 for a 'runaway' greenhouse unto full Venusian. The next major shield eruption might achieve this, or perhaps the one after...

Yes, the old,, dark ;ava fields get too hot by day. Yes, growing plants would help. Snag, atmosphere is anoxic, and plants need some oxygen to respire in the dark. So, plants restricted to indoor hydroponics, or outdoor cloches / greenhouses with supplementary oxygen.

Spreading pale sand around would raise the local lava-field's albedo, staying cooler by day should mean faster cooling by night.

Snag, sand as-is would soon vanish down the old lava's irregularities. They already process silica sand to granules for 'ponics and greenhouse plantings. What size would be optimal for coverage ? Too small is lost, too large, whatever that size, is wasteful. So, how to figure the likely 'sweet-spot' ??
 
Google up 'glass wool'.
With some handwavium you can scatter it 'on the fly' too (look up the manufacturing process).
Also can serve as a soil-replacement for plants (though rock-wool is more frequently used for that purpose).
 
Last edited:
Reply
  • Informative
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: BillTre and Nik_2213