reply to post by Phage
I have seen many images like the OP's and the one thing that I find odd is the way these dark water (or other liquid) marks spread out from the
source. At least I am assuming that is the direction this stuff is moving.
When water flows down a decline here on Earth it starts from a wide area and moves towards a single spot. These seem to be doing the opposite. This
would seem to indicate that the liquid is under some pressure either from an artesian aquifer or some intense underground heating.
In either case the liquid is shooting up from the source and then flowing out over a relatively flat area. From the images, I see a downward slope yet
the liquid is still fanning outward more like the spray from a spray can nozzle.
Originally posted by Adamus
These photos could be of water rising to the surface, sublimating as it is ejected and then blown downwind, leaving behind mineral deposits at ground
level.
Perhaps this material is heated to liquid temperatures underground then it sprays out and sublimates at the surface due to a lack of atmospheric
pressure. Once it cools after a quick sublimation it falls back to the surface as liquid and leaves these marks. A huge geyser effect over a large
area might temporarily raise the atmospheric pressure enough to support liquid (muddy) water for a brief time.
Originally posted by Soylent Green Is People
Any liquid water that may somehow itself on the surface of Mars would very quickly turn into a gas. Even if Mars was warm enough for liquid water,
there is not enough air pressure to keep water in its liquid state.
This is what I was thinking but maybe the atmospheric pressure of Mars changes over time. I don't think anyone really understands why Mars'
atmosphere is so thin and why Venus' is so thick.
Is there a chemistry reason that the salt would help resist evaporation?
There is a maximum dilution point for salt in water. Most water would evaporate at a normal rate until this point is crossed and then you would get
moist salty mud. This would slow evaporation down but then material like that wouldn't flow like a liquid any longer
[edit on 11/7/2009 by Devino]
