Terraforming

Terraforming is the process of altering the surface conditions of Mars to make the planet hospitable for humans and ultimately turn the planet Earth-like. It is the largest investment of resources on Mars and can be disabled by the No Terraforming Game Rule.

Terraforming Parameters

Terraforming Parameters are 4 surface conditions that determine the overall terraforming progress. Once a parameter reaches 100% it is identical to Earth's.

Parameter	Improvement effects	Description
Atmosphere	Decreased severity of Dust Storms and Meteor Storms Increased production from Wind Turbines and MOXIEs (+100% max) Decreased production from Solar Panels (-50% Max)	Represents the density and composition of the Martian atmosphere. The higher this parameter is, the more Earth-like are the atmospheric pressure, Oxygen levels and cloud generation.
Temperature	Decreased severity of Cold Waves Permafrost starts melting above 50%	Represents the global surface temperature of Mars. The higher this parameter is, the more favorable are the conditions for Earth-like life.
Water	Increased production from Moisture Vaporators (+100% max)	Represents the quality and volume of surface water on Mars. The higher this parameter is, more and larger water bodies will appear on Mars: lakes, seas and oceans.
Vegetation	Increased plants spread	Represents the spreading and diversity of vegetation and bacterial life on a planetary scale. The higher this parameter is, the more Mars looks like the tundra biome back on Earth, with the ultimate goal to become a quite harsh, yet habitable second home for humanity.

Terraforming Thresholds

Terraforming Thresholds are values of Terraforming Parameters above which drastic changes will occur on Mars.

Effect	Parameters
Liquid water	25% Temperature
Cold Waves end	50% Temperature
Blue skies	50% Atmosphere
Dust Storms end	50% Atmosphere
Dust Devils end	50% Atmosphere
Meteor Storms end	80% Atmosphere
Vegetation Boom	30% Vegetation
Vegetation Boom	60% Vegetation
Vegetation Boom	90% Vegetation

Effect	Parameters
Toxic Rains start	25% Atmosphere 25% Temperature
Breathable atmosphere	95% Atmosphere 50% Temperature

Effect	Parameters
Sustainable grass	20% Temperature 10% Water
Sustainable bushes	30% Temperature 20% Water
Sustainable pine trees	35% Temperature 35% Water
Sustainable mixed trees	75% Temperature 75% Water

Effect	Parameters
Clear Rains	40% Atmosphere 40% Temperature 10% Water
Toxic Rains end	55% Atmosphere 55% Temperature 5% Water

Terraforming Buildings

Terraforming buildings are the main way of terraforming Mars. They have very high construction costs and should only be built by a self-sufficient colony.

Building	Standard costs	Consumption	Maintenance	Terraforming per Sol	Required technology	Upgrades
Small Lake	10 Concrete 5 Machine Parts	0.5 Water 1 Water to fill-up	Based on Water parameter	+0.01% Water (when liquid)	Lake Crafting	Lake Vaporators
Lake	20 Concrete 5 Machine Parts	1 Water 3 Water to fill-up	Based on Water parameter	+0.03% Water (when liquid)
Large Lake	30 Concrete 5 Machine Parts	1.5 Water 5 Water to fill-up	Based on Water parameter	+0.05% Water (when liquid)
Huge Lake	50 Concrete 5 Machine Parts	2 Water 10 Water to fill-up	Based on Water parameter	+0.1% Water (when liquid)
Forestation Plant	10 Metals 5 Electronics	10 Power * Seeds	1 Polymers	+0.01% Vegetation	Martian Vegetation	Growth Stimulators * Needs no Power if Mission Sponsor is the Terraforming Initiative
Open Farm	15 Concrete 5 Metals 3 Machine Parts	1 Power 10 Water 1 Seeds	1 Metals	Based on Crop	Domeless Farming	Dry Farming
GHG Factory	15 Concrete 15 Metals 10 Machine Parts	10 Power 1 Fuel	2 Machine Parts	0.05% Temperature (0.25% when below 25%)	Greenhouse Mars	Amplify (+50% Terraforming, +20 Consumption, cost: 5)
Carbonate Processor	200 Concrete 50 Metals 50 Machine Parts	50 Power 1 Waste Rock	2 Machine Parts	+0.4% Atmosphere	Carbonate Processor
Core Heat Convector	150 Concrete 100 Metals 50 Polymers	50 Power 10 Water	2 Polymers	+0.4% Temperature	Core Heat Convector
Magnetic Field Generator	250 Metals 50 Electronics	100 Power	10 Metals	-0.2 Atmosphere loss	Magnetic Field Generator

Plants

Forestation Plants can plant various types of Plants. All Plants improve Soil Quality while higher level plants also produce Seeds.

Crop	Min Soil Quality	Seeds required	Growth time	Soil Quality increase	Harvest	Spreads	Requirements
Lichen	0%	0.1	6 Hours	20%	0	no	None
Grass	10%	0.1	12 Hours	10%	0	yes	20% Temperature terraforming 10% Water terraforming
Bushes	20%	0.2	2 Sols	20%	0.2	yes	Adapted Vegetation technology 30% Temperature terraforming 20% Water terraforming
Trees	40%	0.3	6 Sols	50%	1	yes	Adapted Vegetation technology 35% Temperature terraforming 35% Water terraforming
Mixed Trees	40%	0.5	6 Sols	50%	2	yes	Adapted Vegetation technology 75% Temperature terraforming 75% Water terraforming