How did the thinning of the Martian atmosphere directly affect the stability of liquid water on the surface?
Answer
Decreased atmospheric pressure caused the boiling point of water to drop significantly
Atmospheric thinning has a profound secondary effect related to pressure. Water boils when specific pressure and temperature combinations are met, not just based on temperature alone. As the atmosphere thinned, the surface pressure dropped considerably. This reduction in pressure caused the boiling point of water to decrease substantially. Consequently, even if surface temperatures were momentarily warm enough to support liquid water, the low ambient pressure would cause that water to rapidly turn to vapor and escape rather than pool or flow freely.
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