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
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.
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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