Articles | Volume 19, issue 14
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-6909-2026
https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-19-6909-2026
Model description paper
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29 Jul 2026
Model description paper | Highlight paper |  | 29 Jul 2026

A global high-resolution hydrological model to simulate the dynamics of surface liquid reservoirs: application on Mars

Alexandre Gauvain, François Forget, Martin Turbet, Jean-Baptiste Clément, Lucas Lange, and Romain Vandemeulebrouck

Data sets

A Global High-Resolution Hydrological Model to Simulate the Dynamics of Surface Liquid Reservoirs: Application on Mars (Model and Datasets) Alexandre Gauvain https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17208793

Model code and software

A Global High-Resolution Hydrological Model to Simulate the Dynamics of Surface Liquid Reservoirs: Application on Mars (Model and Datasets) Alexandre Gauvain https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17208793

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Editorial statement
Observational evidence suggests that the planet Mars had, at some stage in its history, signifcant surface water. This paper presents a global computational hydrological model of Mars capable of representing that water in various configurations. This provides one component for a future computational model of Mars' ancient climate and offers a route towards greater understanding of the role that water played in the formation of the planet's surface.
Short summary
In this paper, we present a global high-resolution hydrological model to investigate how water may have once flowed and accumulated on Mars. Using detailed topography, the model tracks how lakes and seas form, grow, merge, overflow, and dry out over time. It reveals how a vast northern ocean could emerge from smaller bodies of water. This approach links surface landforms to past climates, offering new perspectives on Mars' watery history and its potential habitability.
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