Large-Scale Biosphere on Mars: Interior Weather
I've been researching the idea of spreading out vast sheets of aerogel across regions of Mars. This would theoretically have the effect of both warming whatever land is under the sheet - thus melting the permafrost and forming lakes - as well as blocking UV rays.
A dome of such material over a large enough parcel of land would mean that colonists wouldn't have to live underground. As long as they remained under the aerogel, their biosphere would simulate being on Earth, albeit with only 38% of our gravity.
Question: What volume within the domed area would be needed to produce its own weather system, including rain and/or fog? I'm envisioning an aerogel "roof" over the entirety of Galle Crater (215km diameter).
Thanks in advance!
2 answers
Any volume is large enough for rain or fog. Humidity buildup (rain) is a concern in spacecraft design, and was one of the reasons (too much rain) that caused one proposed Martian settlement to fail, according to simulations.
You shouldn't need to worry about weather - if you have enough water.
However, aerogel is porous. You'll want something like mylar coating inside the dome to keep the water and air from escaping.
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I know of real-world examples for "weather" in aircraft hangars. Those are huge, but your intended 215km dome is far larger by magnitudes. So if the barrier is right (I cannot suggest something here) then you should definitely have weather there (at least plausibly).
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