Asked by Michael

Does Mars have a Water Cycle?

Answers

Answered by drwls
Yes. There is a lot of water-ice in the polar caps of Mars, and the amount varies with the seasons. When the caps melt, the ice usually sublimes into the atmosphere rather than flowing as a liquid, because the temperatures are too low for liquid water to exist there.

See

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Mars#Polar_caps
Answered by Dr Russ
My addition would be that the water as ice evaporates rather than sublimes. I am sure it will return as ice because of the pressure/temperatre on Mars, but you can't assume that. In the same way on Earth colloquially we might say that snow 'sublimes', but as this is a science question then the correct term is evaporation.

In your answer you might want to point out that some water cycle steps such as plant transpiration are not present on Mars.
Answered by drwls
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sublime?show=0&t=1317053824
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