I realize that quite a bit of water has been found on Mars integrated
into the polar ice caps and under the surface in many areas. However,
I think the idea of masssive oceans of water having existed on Mars
for millions of years - enough to have caused the continent sized
canyons and other dramatic surface features - has some flaws.

Mars is such a small planet that it cannot keep more than a super thin
atmosphere. It's so thin that winds hundreds of miles an hour feel
only like slight breeze. This tepid atmosphere is constantly lost to
space because the gravity is so small. If man ever colonizes Mars an
artificial atmosphere will have to be created but it will have to be
constantly replinished to replace what is lost to space.

If free flowing surface water ever existed on Mars then it would
quickly evaporate into the atmosphere, and soon thereafter be lost to
space. It is simply not possible for oceans of water to have existed
there for millions of years. The problem then is to explain what
could have caused the surface features, if not water. I believe it
was a subtle aspect of gravity, and I have the complete theory on my
website at http://home.austin.rr.com/whcii/

I know many scientists will be horrified by this theory of mine, but
I believe it is at least as plausible as theirs about oceans of water.
Until solid evidence is found of huge, massive quantities of water
having existed on Mars, then my theory must be accepted as a possible
alternative.

Bill Clark