There are a number of Paradoxical or puzzling aspects of the suface and evolution of the planet Mars. Most of these relate to water. Any proper model of Mars' evolution must address all of these paradoxes in a simple and straightforward way.

The Faint Young Sun Paradox

The Atmospheric Stability Paradox

The Carbonate Paradox

Dry Mars / Wet Mars

The other Terrestrial Planets

The Origin of Subsurface Water for the Outburst Floods

The Destination of the Outburst Floods

Other Puzzles
 

Previously, no such simple answer existed.

Now, the White Mars paradigm explains why Mars has these observable characteristics, and why they are no longer paradoxical, but instead are straightforward consequences of the behaviour of a planet dominated by the volatile  CO₂.  The only paradoxes occur when water is interpreted instead of Carbon Dioxide.

      Created: May 2002
      Last modified: May 2002
      Authorised by:  Head, Earth Sciences

      Maintained by: Nick Hoffman
      Email: nhoffman@unimelb.edu.au