From: stmx3@NOSPAM.netscape.net   
      
   Doug Haxton wrote:   
   > On 3 Sep 2003 23:02:36 GMT, baalke@zagami.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke)   
   > wrote:   
   >   
   >   
   >   
   >>"These findings suggest that even under worst case scenarios, where wind is   
   >>maximizing evaporation, evaporation rates on Mars are quite low," Sears said.   
   >>This implies that surface water could indeed exist, or have existed recently,   
   >>under the given conditions on Mars.   
   >   
   >   
   > Waitaminute...the pressure of the Martian atmosphere is only about 1%   
   > that of Earth's at sea level, right?   
   >   
   > Wouldn't any surface water just boil away?   
   >   
   > Doug   
   >   
      
   Not necessarily...especially if the water is cold. At 70 deg F, you can   
   lower pressure slowly down to about 10 Torr before vigorous boiling   
   occurs.  If you keep lowering below 4.5 Torr, suddenly you'll get a   
   rapid phase transition to ice because you're at the Triple Point of   
   water.  So, if water is colder, you should be able to lower pressure   
   even further before you get boiling.   
      
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