Liquid Water On Mars:
A recent study has uncovered the presence of vast amounts of liquid water hidden deep within Mars’ rocky outer crust, marking a significant breakthrough in our understanding of the Red Planet.
- This discovery marks the first time that scientists have found evidence of liquid water on the Martian surface, beyond the known presence of water ice at the planet’s poles.
- The study, titled “Liquid water in the Martian mid-crust,” was published in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
- The research was conducted by a team of scientists from the University of California.
- The discovery could deepen our understanding of Mars’ water cycle, providing insights into the planet’s climatic history, surface processes, and internal structure.
- The presence of liquid water boosts the potential for finding habitable environments, enhancing the ongoing search for life on Mars.
- The researchers utilized data from NASA’s InSight Lander, which operated on the Martian surface from 2018 to 2022.
- The lander was equipped with a seismometer that recorded more than 1,300 Marsquakes and meteorite impacts over four years.
- By analysing the speed of the seismic waves, the researchers could infer the type of material the waves travelled through and apply a geophysical model to identify the presence of liquid water.
- The study identified a water-containing layer located at depths of 10 to 20 kilometres within the Martian crust.
- The water is believed to have seeped from the surface billions of years ago when Mars had a warmer climate and more permeable upper crust, similar to groundwater infiltration on Earth.
- If the findings are representative of the entire planet, the amount of water trapped in these rock fractures could fill an ocean 1-2 kilometres deep across Mars.
