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Water on Mars

Nature volume 326, pages 30–35 (1987)Cite this article

Abstract

Estimates of the amount of water outgassed from Mars, based on the composition of the atmosphere, range from 6 to 160 m, as compared with 3 km for the Earth. In contrast, large flood features, valley networks, and several indicators of ground ice suggest that at least 500 m of water have outgassed. The two sets of estimates may be reconciled if early in its history, Mars lost part of its atmosphere by impact erosion and hydrodynamic escape.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. US Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California, 94025, USA

    Michael H. Carr

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  1. Michael H. Carr
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Carr, M. Water on Mars. Nature 326, 30–35 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/326030a0

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