Evolution of the early Earth

The geologic evidence for a warm early Earth is simply that there are 3+ billion year old (modified) sedimentary rocks that had to have been deposited in a liquid environment.

The atmospheric evidence for a warm early Earth stems from the observed (recorded, for example, in ice cores and rock samples) isotopic ratios: deuterium/hydrogen and 16 oxygen/18 oxygen. Both of the observed ratios require warmer temperatures.

The geologic evidence for a warm early Mars is what you think it is: old river and flood channels observed on Mars! We don't know how old they really are, though we have some idea from counting craters that they must be at least 1 billion years old. And we know they cannot be young anyway because liquid water cannot exist on Mars today!

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