Space Sci Rev (2013) 174:155–212 DOI 10.1007/s11214-012-9946-5 Quantitative Assessments of the Martian Hydrosphere

Abstract In this paper, we review current estimates of the global water inventory of Mars, potential loss mechanisms, the thermophysical characteristics of the different reservoirs that water may be currently stored in, and assess how the planet’s hydrosphere and cryosphere evolved with time. First, we summarize the water inventory quantified from geological anal-yses of surface features related to both liquid water erosion, and ice-related landscapes. They indicate that, throughout most of Martian geologic history (and possibly continuing through to the present day), water was present to substantial depths, with a total inventory ranging Chapter in ISSI book “Quantifying the Martian geochemical reservoirs”