A Massive Underground Ocean has Been Discovered on Mars
NASA
The promising news is that a massive underground ocean on Mars could cover the entire planet with a mile (1.6 km) of water. However, the downside is that this water is buried so deep and is so inaccessible that it might as well be located in another galaxy.
Mars has proven to be one of the most frustrating planets humanity has encountered. Over the past two centuries, we’ve swung back and forth between finding evidence suggesting life could exist or that there’s ample water for future Earth colonies, only to have those hopes repeatedly dashed by new data.
UC Berkeley-led Study Unveils Hidden Martian Water, Balancing Hope with Challenges
A UC Berkeley-led study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, brings a mix of hope and disappointment.
However, by analyzing seismic data from NASA’s Insight lander with computer rock physics models—similar to those used for mapping Earth’s aquifers and oil fields—scientists found that the most likely explanation for the readings is a deep layer of fractured igneous rock beneath Mars’ surface, saturated with liquid water.
James Tuttle Keane/Aaron Rodriquez, courtesy of Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Vast Martian Water Reservoir Discovered, but Its Depth Poses a Major Engineering Challenge
There’s an entire ocean’s worth of water trapped in that rock, but the problem is its inaccessibility. The layer is buried 11.5 to 20 km (7 to 13 miles) beneath the surface, making it a significant engineering challenge to reach, even on Earth—let alone on Mars.
However, there’s some positive news. The presence of such a vast water reservoir suggests another potential habitat where microbial life might exist. It also offers insights into Mars’ geological history.
Three billion years ago, Mars was a watery world, with an ocean covering one hemisphere. But as its atmosphere eroded, due to the lack of a magnetic field to shield it from solar winds, most of the water evaporated into space, leaving behind ice caps and permafrost.
If the Berkeley team’s analysis is accurate, a large portion of those ancient seas might have seeped through cracks in the rock, settling deep beneath the surface.
“Understanding the Martian water cycle is crucial for grasping the evolution of the planet’s climate, surface, and interior,” said Vashan Wright, a former UC Berkeley postdoctoral fellow. “Identifying where water is and how much exists is a key starting point.”
Read the original article: New Atlas
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