Quote:
Originally posted by Riddil
If that statement is true, then for there to be running water at that magnitude it would mean that Mars at that time would have had to have a much higher atmospheric pressure... something difficult to do considering the gravity of the planet can't really sustain a dense stratosphere.
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Funny, PBS just had a show that discussed this. There's some concern that the Earth's magnetic field is flipping. (The field acts as a planetary shield, deflecting all the crap the sun keeps sneezing at us.) In about a thousand years, the north pole will be in the south, and south in the north. In between, we'll have lots of mini-poles wandering around, confusing whole generations of cub scouts.
While analysing the Earth's mantle, they discovered that it's fluid state is key to the magnetic field. They theorized that in the distant past, Mars may have had a thicker atmosphere, with running water and
happy bunnies. But the core cooled too much, and its field faded, and the solar wind blew most of the atmostphere away.
Shields up! Anyone know if Santa is polish?