摘要：The lower critical mass boundaries (CM) for various atmospheric gas species on terrestrial planets are estimated. The CM is different for different gas molecules. Except for He, the observed atmospheric compositions of the terrestrial planets are consistent with these estimates. The lower CM boundary for gaseous H 2 O is calculated as 8.06 × 10 26 g, which is significantly greater than the Martian mass (6.419 × 10 26 g). Thus, Mars is not capable of retaining H 2 O in its atmosphere. If the speculated ocean on Mars and the claimed H 2 O ice in the Martian soil are true, both the ocean and ice had to be derived earlier from H 2 O degassed from the Martian interior after the surface temperature cooled much below 100°C. These watery bodies cannot be sustained for long durations because evaporation and sublimation would turn them into gaseous H 2 O, which would be lost to outer-space. It is concluded that H 2 O in/on Mars is inherent and that the primordial planetesimals that formed Mars must have contained appreciable amounts of hydrous minerals, if the oceans and/or H 2 O ice on Mars are true.
