Quote:
Originally Posted by Praxeas
Liquid water cannot exist on the surface of Mars with its present low atmospheric pressure, except at the lowest elevations for short periods [11][12] but water ice is in no short supply, with two polar ice caps made largely of ice. [13] In March 2007, NASA announced that the volume of water ice in the south polar ice cap, if melted, would be sufficient to cover the entire planetary surface to a depth of 11 metres. [14] Additionally, an ice permafrost mantle stretches down from the pole to latitudes of about 60°. [13]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars |
Right, the phase curve for water shows at the current atmospheric pressure doesn't allow for ice to exist as liquid, just gas and water.
The phase diagram here shows the where what pressure water begins to convert to liquid, the area that only has a single red line (the bottom of the curve) shows where only sublimation can occur.
__________________
Everyone's Connected <-- Visit now and Easily Connect with your Facebook credentials!
Join EC, help make this site something worth its name. We need people to get on their and start discussion, post pictures, make and join groups! INVITE YOUR FRIENDS... ask me what I would do to get you to join and invite your friends!