Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian Robinson
Sounds like an interesting read.
Does it go into the detailed geophysics and geochemistry or is more aimed at lay people ?
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Yes, it does go into detailed geophysics and geochemistry. Its focus is on serious discussion (alternative approaches, current versus developing technologies, force/energy requirements, chemical equations, required time frames, etc). It also briefly discusses a few ridiculous alternatives, and tactfully discusses why they may be impractical.
Ideal to have an engineering or science background to fully appreciate this book, although those with a solid understanding if year-12 chemistry, physics and maths would also be fine also.
A snippet from the Table of Contents is as follows:
Chapter 5 - The Ecopoiesis of Mars
5.2 Mars as an Abode of Life
5.3 Approached to Terraforming Mars
5.4 Early Ecopoiesis Models
5.5 Modern Ecopoiesis Models
5.6 Organisms for Pioneering Mars
Chapter 6 - The Terraforming of Mars
6.1 Problems with a Popular Paradigm
6.2 Tackling the Volatiles Problem
6.3 A Synergic Scenario for Terraforming Mars
6.4 The Problem of Attention Span
Chapter 7 - The Terraforming of Venus
7.1 A Fair Imagined Venus
7.2 The Revealed Venus
7.3 The Requirements of Terraforming Venus
7.4 Aerial Photosynthesis
7.5 Importation of Reductants
7.6 Impact Erosion
7.7 Freezing Out Carbon Dioxide
7.8 Disposal of CO2 by Chemical Weathering
7.9 The Problem of the Diurnal Cycle
7.10 A Comparison of Scale
Chapter 8 - Terraforming: Alternative Methods, Fringe Concepts, and Ultimate Possibilities
8.1 Fleshing out the Envelope
8.2 Paraterraforming
8.3 Terraforming the "Lesser Planets"
8.4 Planet Shifting
8.5 Cosmic Engineering Meets Terraforming
8.6 Terraforming and the Interstellar Future
Cheers,
Jeff
