Mars is in a thermal equilibrium, where the same amount of energy as received is radiated away.

This leads to two broad categories of strategies.

1. Increase the amount of illumination. More energy in means the temperature of the system has to increase until a new equilibrium is reached. As we have no power source even close to the same power as the Sun, this means instealling some kind of mirror in space to make more sun light hit Mars.

2. Decrease the heat loss. Less energy out means the means the temperature of the system has to increase until a new equilibrium is reached.
Proposed schemes include:

• Dark material covering the surface, reducing direct reflection
• Releasing natural volatiles into the atmosphere to block outbound thermal radiation ("greenhouse effect").
• Release artificial gasses with a much higher greenhouse potential.

These all run into the problem of being very large projects outside our current capability.

Mars is in a thermal equilibrium, where the same amount of energy as received is radiated away.

This leads to two broad categories of strategies.

1. Increase the amount of illumination. More energy in means the temperature of the system has to increase until a new equilibrium is reached. As we have no power source even close to the same power as the Sun, this means installing some kind of mirror in space to make more sun light hit Mars.

2. Decrease the heat loss. Less energy out means the means the temperature of the system has to increase until a new equilibrium is reached.
Proposed schemes include:

• Dark material covering the surface, reducing direct reflection
• Releasing natural volatiles into the atmosphere to block outbound thermal radiation ("greenhouse effect").
• Release artificial gasses with a much higher greenhouse potential.

These all run into the problem of being very large projects outside our current capability.