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Martian Forest; A New Idea For Inhabiting The Red Planet

Martian Forest; A New Idea For Inhabiting The Red Planet

Creating A Habitat Or Biological Reserve On Mars By Taking Ideas From The Habitats On Earth And The Environmental Mechanism Governing Our Planet Seems Crazy. Still, Not All Experts Have Such An Opinion, And Some Consider It Practical.

Our population on planet earth has now reached 8 billion people. According to the United Nations, when the Earth’s population reaches its peak sometime around 2100, there will be 11 billion people on our planet. According to the World Wildlife Federation, our population growth is clashing with the natural world on a larger scale than ever before, and we are losing between 200 and 2,000 species each year.

These propositions may seem to have nothing to do with the article’s subject, But the keyword of the mentioned sentences, which will be essential for us in this article, lies in “collision.” British engineering believes that one of the ways to reduce the damage caused by the collision between humans and nature is to create more habitats. We can do this by building a Terran ecosystem on Mars. In the continuation of the article, we will get to know more about this idea.

In an article in the International Journal of Astrobiology, Smith, a civil engineer at the School of Engineering at the University of Bristol, UK, explains how we could build a nature reserve on Mars and how such a reserve could serve as an Extraterrestrial Nature Reserve (ETNR). According to Smith’s ideas, the ETNR functions as both a psychological sanctuary and a botanical garden. Paul L.

The idea of ​​building a nature reserve or something similar on the red planet may seem absurd at first glance, But we should not forget that Smith is an engineer, and he thought about this issue during his career and explained it in his article.

Furthermore, Smith does not insist on the imminence or availability of ETNR on Mars. He has a long-term view, and his opinion is based on a fundamental assessment: humans will continue to put more pressure and damage on Earth, and we will continue to colonize Mars.

By confirming this premise, Smith argues that ETNRs should be considered a necessary and efficient part of any colonization effort on Mars. Smith isn’t the first to think of this idea; he draws on much previous research.

Maybe it is better to pay attention and evaluate the “possibility” of doing it on Mars before discussing whether it is “wise.” When we focus on the possibility of doing extensive technical work, who can do it better than an engineer?

A colonist on Mars, the red planet

If one day we colonize Mars, nature should also accompany us on that path (a sketch of the colonist’s habitat on Mars).

The length of the Martian day is similar to the day on Earth, and this fundamental issue may remove many obstacles. In addition, Mars is much colder than Earth; But currently, there are systems to maintain and preserve the enclosed spherical sanctuary; Therefore, the temperature can be managed without much complexity. Another critical point is about the dry surface of Mars; however, there is plenty of frozen water beneath the Red Planet’s surface. From this, we can conclude that the water supply problem will not be unsolvable.

The atmospheric compositions of Mars and Earth are very different; However, compared to other cases, this challenge is probably considered a simple and manageable issue. By relying on the science of physics and existing technologies, a closed environment can be engineered to reach the desired atmosphere for the implementation of the project. The presence of plant life can regulate the background to some extent. Besides these, temperature and pressure will be the two most specific factors to adjust or change by human hands.

Everything mentioned in the above paragraphs was the basic principles, and maybe you are familiar with parts of it or have read about it. Still, when it comes to more detailed analysis, more confusing and complex issues will gradually show themselves. In Smith’s research, this part of the challenges has been discussed in detail.

Perhaps we can consider the radiation environment of Mars as the starting point of complications. Without a layer like the ozone layer on Mars, the Red Planet’s surface would be exposed to dangerous levels of ionizing UV radiation. Smith writes:

Some amount of UV radiation is desirable and forms part of the metabolism of some living organisms. Humans need some ultraviolet rays to stimulate the production of vitamin D. Still, various terrestrial life forms are incompatible with the increase of ultraviolet radiation and need adequate protection against these radiations. Due to the thin atmosphere and the lack of a suitable ozone layer, the harsh ultraviolet flux on the surface of Mars makes the Earth infertile.

Smith adds:

Fortunately, glass-plastic composites can block harmful wavelengths from entering, allowing beneficial UV and visible light to pass through. Therefore, the UV flux in the CTTE (Terran-Contained Terran Ecosystem) is restrained.

Magnetic fields are a broader issue. We know that the magnetic field protects the planet from cosmic rays and prevents the destruction of the ozone layer by solar wind. However, we do not have a complete understanding of the mechanisms behind the operation of the Earth’s magnetic fields. Some organisms use the Earth’s magnetic field to migrate and move in different directions.

Some scientists refer to the correct and complete understanding of the Earth’s magnetic fields as “the greatest mystery in animal biology.” Naturally, we all agree on the need to understand such a mystery better, But can we engineer artificial magnetic fields in CTTE with current knowledge? Life on Earth also changes with the change of seasons. The structure of the biome changes, and this must be managed. Seasonal variation on Mars is very different from Earth; Therefore, seasons must be engineered. Smith explains:

Timing determines the critical stages of the development of individual physiologies and interspecies relationships. Meanwhile, the timing of non-living events affects the global nutrient flux.

He further mentions that the light cycle and winter cold play a role in the phenology of temperate plants. Phenology includes things like budding and bud break and flowering in plants. Also, animals’ more complex behaviors s, such as migration, breeding, and egg-laying, are included in this category. These behaviors are coordinated in nature, between individuals, and between different species. Repeating them will be a big issue.

Plant life is intricately linked to the changing seasons

Humans do not reproduce seasonally, But we are also not separated from the seasons, and this dependence increases, especially in temperate regions. Seasons also have vital features for psychological regeneration.

Phenomena such as autumn color, winter silence, spring flowers, and summer leaves may seem simple, But they are necessary and efficient. Another difference between Mars and Earth that may be overlooked in some analyzes is the lunar cycles. Earth’s moon is vast and has a significant influence on our planet. Phobos (the smaller moon) and Deimos are the two potato-shaped moons of Mars and have almost no impact on Mars.

Even if Mars is full of life and organisms and oceans, the fact is that those two small rocks cannot create tides on the surface of Martian waters. There may be areas on Mars where these two moons are never visible. Smith describes Earth’s moon as a “Zitgeber.” Zeitgeber is a natural and rhythmic phenomenon that acts as a sign of regulating the body’s circadian rhythms. It was mentioned earlier that the length of the Mars day is similar to that of the Earth; Therefore, perhaps daily rhythms are not problematic.

The moons of Mars are Phobos and Deimos The composite image of Mars and its two moons are Phobos (foreground) and Deimos (background).

Mars receives only 43% of the amount of sunlight received by Earth. Research shows that this amount of the sun would be enough for photosynthesis on the Red Planet, But the growth rate of plants on Mars will not match the same speed on Earth without artificial augmentation. This issue is another obstacle that can be overcome with engineering and technology, But the problems related to that will eventually make ETNR more complicated.

Smith talks about putting natural preserves in underground lava tubes and believes such an idea would protect against ultraviolet rays and other benefits. In these cases, artificial light reinforcement is also needed. We must not forget that the ETNR complex also needs soil. Mars has a basaltic crust rich in many nutrients necessary for plants. While referring to the research of other scientists, Smith writes:

Soils derived from basalt with volcanic ash are fertile agricultural soils. Crushed basalt can increase soil pH, While its dissolution causes the release of valuable nutrients, including phosphorus. Phosphorus is one of plants’ three primary nutrients to grow: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

This is a complicated puzzle. There is probably enough nitrogen in the Martian soil to grow plants, but it is not only nitrogen; plants also need 16 other micronutrients. According to Smith, these are all reported from Martian or Martian meteorites; But other chemicals are effective in soil fertility that plants do not directly consume.

Earth’s soil contains all the nutrients plants need and is full of microbes and organisms such as earthworms. These organisms are part of the living system in the Earth’s soil. The question is, does the whole system need to be rebuilt? If so, that should be considered an extraordinary level of sophistication.

Martian storms sometimes become very big and violent due to the geographical extent of their influence.

Based on the research, some of these cases can be repeated in the rocky cover of Mars; However, these researches have been conducted on soil made on Mars and Earth. How confident can we be that we can build a complete soil system on Mars?

Martian rock also contains higher levels of toxins compared to Earth’s soil. There are higher levels of perchlorate on Mars, making the rocky planet a toxic environment for various life forms. Also, there are much more iron oxides in Martian rock, and when combined with increased levels of perchlorate and hydrogen peroxide, it will create a very toxic product.

Making soil from scratch is one of the critical components in creating ETNR and will be among the complex issues in this path. Can remedial action be taken against it? The answer is probably yes.

Martian dust storms also play their role in the equations. Some Martian rocks are so fine that storms blow them up. The magnitude of these storms in terms of the area of ​​influence is sometimes equal to the size of the United States. These layers accumulate on surfaces and cause problems for solar panels deployed on Mars landers. These storms also reduce the amount of solar energy reaching the surface and create more difficulty and pressure for photosynthesis.

Gravity is one of the factors that regulate the growth of plants. The lower gravity of Mars must also be taken into account. The seriousness of Mars is only 38% of the severity of Earth. As an example of gravity-related issues, could a spindly evergreen tree growing in the reduced gravity of Mars? Smith writes about this:

Based on experiments, a gravitational acceleration equal to 0.3g (this value is less than the gravitational acceleration of Mars) would be enough to trigger gravitational responses. Still, this meristem (segmental) ability can be destroyed by gravity like the moon’s gravity (approximately equivalent to 0.17g).

Gravitational responses are plant life’s response to gravity and work in two ways. Charles Darwin showed that plant roots exhibit favorable attraction; they grow toward the center of gravity.

This is while the stems do the opposite. Research shows that plants can grow and photosynthesize in microgravity.

Astronauts have grown different types of plants on the International Space Station. Gravity in ISS is about 89% of Earth’s gravity; However, it should not be forgotten that those experiments were carried out on selected crops, and no trees have grown on the International Space Station.

NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson Peggy Whitson, NASA astronaut, examining soybean plant growth experiment.

Smith finally concludes:

Based on such evidence, it can be imagined that some plants can withstand the gravity of Mars; However, forest performance is also affected.

The effect of gravity is more than just an effect on plant growth. Gravity has a decisive impact on many other factors. In a part of Smith’s article, it is pointed out that “leaf fall and reproduction, leaping, flying, dead wood falling, raindrop impact and water discharge contribute to dynamism,”; But lower gravity can also have benefits. Less light from Mars can contribute to long-stemmed growth and spaced leaves in plants, weaker stems, and less overall growth. Lower gravity may offset some of these adverse effects.

Attempting to recreate Earth’s forest-specific biome would backfire, notes Smith. These forests are far too complex to be easily replicated. Earth’s forests owe their assemblages to environmental and evolutionary pressures, and these conditions differ from the strains found in Martian CTTEs. It should be noted that so far, no forest food web has been wholly traced and recorded.

The canopies also potentially contain over 100,000 nutritional links and are challenging to replicate. Instead of the objective repetition approach, we should consider a terrestrial ecosystem with a new life network. Such a network will take time to establish and develop on Mars. The goal is to introduce species and see which ones have adapted, allowing time for a new hybrid ecosystem to develop.

In his paper, Smith points out that ETNR designers should consider species as ecological cogs with the potential to aggregate into functional ecosystems. The proliferation of the Earth’s forests is impossible, but developing new ecosystems that function in unexpected ways is conceivable. Martian forests are not [strictly] similar in nature or function to Earth’s forests, But they can still be amazing. The autumn season in the gravity condition of 0.38g creates a dreamy scene of falling leaves.

There are many more details in Smith’s article. The mentioned issue is a big challenge, and we have only started dealing with all the problems. For example, if ETNRs bring life to Martian humans, we’ll need some decent species along the way.

We are faced with a large number of apparently simple but unanswered questions.

Woodlands without birdsong or butterflies would be considered poor TTE. Such scarcity may exacerbate homesickness. The glass is half full; humans probably wouldn’t have a problem without mosquitoes! Walking in a silent forest is a terrible feeling.

What about moral limitations? Naturally, all our efforts to create a sanctuary on Mars will not be successful. Do we have the right to transfer other life forms to ETNR? Knowing that these creatures will not have a fate other than suffering and death if they do not tolerate the conditions? Are we supposed to look at the issue from this point of view that these creatures, in the event of any disaster, will ultimately be a part of human efforts to preserve all earthly life? So, should their suffering be accepted along with ours?

Our understanding of how life works as a whole is still incomplete. We still wonder about pods of whales coming ashore or large birds dying. Therefore, we cannot expect to be able to “fix” conditions in ETNR such that there are never any deaths. These can lead to new habitats that other life forms will use. This is nature, and we must accept reality to restore it.

Smith emphasizes another point that is sometimes overlooked in this type of discussion. The body of Homo sapiens did not evolve in space. We have developed alongside other life forms and cannot survive without them. The biological network is very complex. At a fundamental level, our guts are colonized by bacteria (an essential part of the human microbiome); without them, we’d be in trouble. At this basic biological level, we need other life forms to survive, and they, in turn, depend on other life forms.

This fundamental question must also be answered: “Do we have the knowledge to recreate a limited terrestrial ecosystem on Mars?” This leads to another question: “Are we about to put ourselves in a position where we have to find the answers to the first question before we are sufficiently prepared?”

Even if we never go to Mars or ever build an ETNR on that planet, the thought exercise of such an idea leads us to one conclusion: nature is the overarching structure that governs our lives, and more than nature needs us, we need it. We need nature; Therefore, we must keep nature alive. Elsewhere, Smith sums up:

From a biocentric point of view, world leaders should be concerned about the future of life in the universe and the role of humans in protecting and promoting it. The survival of life in any form is the ultimate priority of ecology. On a planet with limited habitability, this is an important task.