Hi Peter,

The reports of martian weather are much like the weather reports here - mostly erroneous, yet delivered with complete assurance to the public.

As such, the conditions upon the surface are estimated by folks utilizing very limited sets of data (mostly Viking and MGS data sets) and so must rely on these for calculations of what elements exist within the martian atmosphere.

For years, I have been very concerned about spectroscopic measurements of elements. As you know, the spectroscope meausures the wave length of measured light through a special prism, in the case of spacecraft - a diffraction grating is utilized which spreads out the spectrum and is lighter.

The problem again is the data set. We can only compare wave lengths with existing elements and this is very flawed unless we somehow wish to enter fantasyland on an e-ticket and believe all the elements in the cosmos can be found right here on earth.

Even our solar system presents the fairly obvious fact that worlds here, are made differently. Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune probably are home to a whole class of gases and elements which we cannot identify or measure correctly.

One such new class probably exists as a semi-solid or liquid gas. Martian liquids will likely be equally exotic.

I think also of molten metals as well as liquid gases.

I can easily imagine lakes of metals on planets like Venus, Mercury and even Mars.

Mars looks like a shifting rock in which many things lurk. In the Grand canyon one travels through three different climates from the top to bottom. On Mars, I suspect the planet itself is also divided into climatic layers. The evidence of geothermal activity is fairly obvious.

Mars is a living planet. It may be a dying planet by earth standards, but I bet there is the resilient remains of a more luscious world lurking beneath the harsh surface.

As long as the Lady of the Lake doesn't thrust her arm out with Excalibur - I'm fine with chemical lakes on Mars.

Best wishes,

SDAI-Tech1

PS
Then again it may be the ski-spot and vacation resort for 'components' of 'Alternative 003' ;-)