News Water ice near the equator on Mars.

RGClark

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Water ice found near Mars’s equator could entice colonists and life-seekers
Find also poses climate puzzle
SCIENCEMAG.ORG
mars-water-revised_16x9.jpg

http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017...uator-could-entice-colonists-and-life-seekers

Very interesting finding. Daytime surface temperatures near the equator can be well above freezing. That raises the possibility of liquid water near surface at these sites.

Could Curiosity or Opportunity visit one of these sites?
One of these sites might be a good location for the Mars 2020 rover.

Bob Clark
 

Urwumpe

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Isn't the mean surface pressure of Mars just below the triple point of water, meaning that liquid water won't exist since it'll just become water vapor?

Yes. But it exists as ice. Much means you could melt it under pressurization or condense the vapor...

EDIT: Also its possible for liquid salt water to exist on Mars, since depending on how salty it is, it can really be liquid under Mars surface conditions.
 

Andy44

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Ares still has lots of surprises for us! The scientists and satellite operators who discovered this should be recognized, this is fantastic work.

(Also, that photo reminds me of a Pink Floyd album cover art)
 

RGClark

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Isn't the mean surface pressure of Mars just below the triple point of water, meaning that liquid water won't exist since it'll just become water vapor?

Sources: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe...ater.svg/700px-Phase_diagram_of_water.svg.png
Triple point at 273.16K, 611.657 Pa
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmosphere_of_Mars
Mean surface pressure 600 Pa

That's correct about the mean. But for kilometer deep large craters, or for the bottom of Valles Marineris it could be hours inside the liquid zone.

One near equatorial spot is my favorite choice for the Mars 2020 rover, Noctis Labyrinthus, and not just for the cool sounding name.
It frequently shows low lying fogs and clouds. This may be indicative of near surface water ice.

Clouds_Noctis_Viking_01.gif


lFvLrgQ.jpg


Marineris%20fog-thumb-570x738-127871.jpg




Bob Clark
 
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