Observational evidence such as outflow channels and valley networks suggest that in the past there was flowing water on Mars. The images of fluvial features on Mars logically suggest that there must exist downstream locations in which the water pooled and the sediment load deposited (i.e. lakes). Sediments and morphological features associated with the martian paleolakes are believed to occur in Valles Marineris, and several large basins including Amazonis, Chryse and Elysium planitia. As Mars became progressively colder over geological time, any lakes on its surface would have become seasonally, and eventually perennially ice-covered. We know from polar lakes on Earth that ice-covered lakes can persist even when the mean annual temperature falls below freezing. Thus, the most recent lacustrine sediments on Mars were probably deposited in ice-covered lakes. While life outside of the Earth's atmosphere has yet to be observed, there is a general consensus among exobiologists that the search for extraterrestrial life should be based upon liquid water. The inference that there was liquid water on Mars during an earlier epoch is the primary motivation for considering the possibility of life during this time. It would be of enormous interest from both an exobiological and paleolimnological perspective to discover lakes or the evidence of former lakes on another planet such as Mars. Limnology would then become an interplanetary science.

中文翻译：

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火星上的古湖泊

外流通道和山谷网络等观测证据表明，过去火星上有流动的水。火星上河流特征的图像从逻辑上表明，下游一定存在水汇集和沉积物沉积的位置（即湖泊）。据信，与火星古湖泊相关的沉积物和形态特征出现在水手谷和几个大盆地，包括亚马逊、克律斯和极乐世界。随着火星随着地质时间的推移逐渐变冷，其表面上的任何湖泊都会季节性地变成冰雪覆盖，最终终年被冰覆盖。我们从地球上的极地湖泊得知，即使年平均气温低于冰点，冰雪覆盖的湖泊也可以持续存在。因此，火星上最新的湖泊沉积物可能沉积在冰雪覆盖的湖泊中。虽然地球大气层以外的生命还有待观察，但外星生物学家普遍认为，寻找外星生命应该基于液态水。在较早的时期火星上存在液态水的推论是考虑这段时期存在生命可能性的主要动机。从外星生物学和古湖沼学的角度来看，发现湖泊或在另一个星球（如火星）上发现前湖泊的证据都具有极大的兴趣。湖沼学随后将成为一门星际科学。外星生物学家普遍认为，寻找外星生命应以液态水为基础。在较早的时期火星上存在液态水的推论是考虑这段时期存在生命可能性的主要动机。从外星生物学和古湖沼学的角度来看，发现湖泊或在另一个星球（如火星）上发现前湖泊的证据都具有极大的兴趣。湖沼学随后将成为一门星际科学。外星生物学家普遍认为，寻找外星生命应以液态水为基础。在较早的时期火星上存在液态水的推论是考虑这段时期存在生命可能性的主要动机。从外星生物学和古湖沼学的角度来看，发现湖泊或在另一个星球（如火星）上发现前湖泊的证据都具有极大的兴趣。湖沼学随后将成为一门星际科学。从外星生物学和古湖沼学的角度来看，发现湖泊或在另一个星球（如火星）上发现前湖泊的证据都具有极大的兴趣。湖沼学随后将成为一门星际科学。从外星生物学和古湖沼学的角度来看，发现湖泊或在另一个星球（如火星）上发现前湖泊的证据都具有极大的兴趣。湖沼学随后将成为一门星际科学。