Mars: Retention of Ice

Water in the form of ice can exist on Mars as permafrost that is either in equilibrium with the water content of the atmosphere or gradually evaporating through a protective layer of soil. The latter situation is evaluated quantitatively, and the required thicknesses of the protective layers are est...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science
Main Author: Smoluchowski, R.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 1968
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.159.3821.1348
https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.159.3821.1348
Description
Summary:Water in the form of ice can exist on Mars as permafrost that is either in equilibrium with the water content of the atmosphere or gradually evaporating through a protective layer of soil. The latter situation is evaluated quantitatively, and the required thicknesses of the protective layers are estimated. The presence of subsurface ice may explain the higher radar reflectivity of the dark areas than of the bright areas. Observation of its seasonal variations is suggested.