Thunder Chicken
Fine Threads since 2008
Is anyone aware of any Martian soil temperature measurements made by any lander?
It seems to me that, even though the atmosphere is very cold, that solar radiation might heat the soil to a relatively warm temperature in places. Even though atmospheric pressure is generally too low to support liquid at the surface, it would seem plausible that liquid water could exist in sand interstices, with surface tension permitting enough pressure to maintain a liquid state.
The atmospheric pressure and mean temperatures of Mars are generally just below the triple point so water ice tends to sublimate, but a few more millibars would permit a liquid state over a small range of temperatures.
It seems to me that, even though the atmosphere is very cold, that solar radiation might heat the soil to a relatively warm temperature in places. Even though atmospheric pressure is generally too low to support liquid at the surface, it would seem plausible that liquid water could exist in sand interstices, with surface tension permitting enough pressure to maintain a liquid state.
The atmospheric pressure and mean temperatures of Mars are generally just below the triple point so water ice tends to sublimate, but a few more millibars would permit a liquid state over a small range of temperatures.
