What major concept does the identification of widespread Martian shorelines force a recalibration of?
Answer
Models for early Martian climate and hydrology
The discovery that a massive, sustained ocean once covered significant portions of Mars requires scientists to fundamentally revise their established frameworks for understanding the planet's early history. If such a vast reservoir of water existed stably on the surface for geological timescales, current models attempting to describe the climate necessary to maintain liquid water (i.e., temperature and atmospheric pressure) must be reassessed. This forces a recalibration of Martian hydrology models, prompting deeper investigation into how Mars maintained the necessary conditions—whether through a vastly thicker, now-lost atmosphere or through periodic cycling of liquid water.
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