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Destabilized Martian Soil

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Thu, 2013-12-05 04:20
#1
Holy Holy's picture
Destabilized Martian Soil
A question popped up in my head: Mars is terraformed by heating up the planet using green house gases, mirrors and whatever. Therefore carbondioxide ice sublimates (directly turns from solid to gas) from the martian permafrost, heating the planet up further. Does the no longer present CO2-ice destabilize the soil or rather not stabilize it any longer? Is the Martian Hinterland doted with areas of highly unstable ground?
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Fri, 2013-12-06 15:45
bibliophile20 bibliophile20's picture
Holy wrote: Is the Martian
Holy wrote:
Is the Martian Hinterland doted with areas of highly unstable ground?
Almost certainly. Hehehehe... and those sinkholes might get filled with blown fine dust particles, creating a pit that looks like solid ground, but will instead eat your vehicle if you try to drive over them. Forward looking ground-penetrating radar is almost certainly a necessity on martian land vehicles, but it's a really good way to announce your presence (given that it is an active sensor, and any backscatter from the sensor will be easily detectable).
—

"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote." -Benjamin Franklin

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Tue, 2013-12-10 14:00
Nebelwerfer41 Nebelwerfer41's picture
I would be possible, but
I would be possible, but probably not in areas with very loose soils, as the structure would not support itself after "outgassing" of CO2 ice. All the more reasons to roll your Geology skill to plot out a course and make Perception checks as you navigate the terrain to spot areas of unstable ground and/or vents formed by outgassing events.
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