As you can see, creating the temperature scales was really rather arbitrary: “I think 0° is when water freezes with salt.” “I think it’s just when water freezes.” “Oh, yea, well I think it’s when atoms stop!” Many of our measuring systems started rather arbitrarily and then, due to standardization over time, became the systems we use today. So that’s how temperature is measured, but what is temperature measuring?
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Yes it actually exists! Scientists use triple point cells to calibrate thermometers. On Earth, the triple point of water happens when you ice skate. The temperature of the ice is just about at the triple point, and when the weight of the skater presses on the ice, it creates a thin layer of liquid (which makes gliding possible), which soon evaporates in water vapor. On Mars, the conditions are just about at the triple point for water, so water would be able to exist in all three phases at the same time. You can do an experiment to create the triple point of water like this one (this would make for a fantastic science project!): https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/tackling-the-triple-point/
Karis asks: does the triple point of water actually exist, or is it just an idea?