According to recent findings, the water that once existed on Mars’ surface could be found underground. Credit: Kevin Gill
Posted on 12/22/2014 11:13:01 AM PST by BenLurkin
Basically, there is a gap between what is thought to have existed in the past, and what is observed today in the form of water ice. The findings made by Tomohiro and the international research team help to account for this.
“The total inventory of “observable” current surface water (that mostly occurs as polar ice, ~10E6 km3) is more than one order magnitude smaller than the estimated volume of ancient surface water (~10E7 to 10E8 km3) that is thought to have covered the northern lowlands,” said Tomohiro. “The lack of water at the surface today was problematic for advocates of such large paleo-ocean and -lake volume.”
(Excerpt) Read more at universetoday.com ...
Recall... Recall... Recall...
Blue Sky on Mars.
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The particles out of which Mars was formed had appreciable amounts of water. You might expect a fair amount of water locked up in minerals or at some depth. Of course, there are far less minerals on Mars than on earth as robust life and oxygen contribute to lots of minerals. The rocks from the pictures do indicate plenty of surface water at one time and deep water accompanies that. Volatiles like water are largely gone from the surface. However you might find a biosphere with abundant water at depth. JMHO
The Waters of the Deep are said to have been released on earth. What would be required for Mars’ water to be released from the deep?
It seems counterintuitive but volcanos are most likely the source of earth’s atmosphere and much of the water along with carbonaceous chondrite meteors during the great bombardment. They are also what makes for catastrophic explosions in felsic eruptions. How to rehydrate Mars surface, I haven’t a clue unless the atmosphere is restored. Volcanism on Mars is long past. Any surface water except at the poles is lost to the thin atmosphere now.
Related item: Astronomy picture of the day of the subsurface water of Mars.
Interesting. Thanks!
With less gravity than earth, gases escape more quickly from Mars atmosphere. That is why there is not much. If a lot could be created, does anyone know how rapidly it would escape?
The lower atmospheric density (equivalent to 40 miles altitude over the Earth) means the vapor point of water is reached all the time; but the surface is so cold that the ices tied up deep in the soils will be able to stay put for a long time. Closer to the surface, the ices can go from frozen directly to vapor with a slight push (such as an impact from space).
My question related more specifically to the thought that man might be able to generate huge amounts of atmospheric gases. So my thought was would they stay around for a few years or a few millenia?
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