Ancient Martian Beaches Reveal Evidence of Oceans on the Red Planet

Mars, often depicted as a dry, dusty, and barren desert, was once abundant in water, even containing oceans, according to a recent study.

Ground-Penetrating Radar Reveals Evidence of Martian Beaches

Using ground-penetrating radar, researchers have discovered underground features that resemble beaches, indicating that Mars hosted a northern sea 4 billion years ago. This is some of the strongest evidence yet supporting the idea that Mars once had vast bodies of water.

The research team has named this ancient sea “Deuteronilus.”

Geologist Benjamin Cardenas from The Pennsylvania State University explains, “We’ve identified areas on Mars that resemble ancient beaches and river deltas. We’ve found signs of wind, waves, and plenty of sand—like a real beach you’d visit for vacation.”

The Ongoing Mystery of Mars’ Water History

Understanding Mars’ water history remains a challenging mystery. On the surface, the planet appears dry and inhospitable, covered in global dust storms, leading to the belief that Mars has always been a barren, dry rock. However, mounting evidence increasingly shows that liquid water once flowed abundantly across its surface. Moreover, this discovery reinforces the idea that the planet had conditions to sustain large amounts of water.

While it is clear that water once existed on Mars, questions still remain about how much water there was, when it disappeared, and where it went. Furthermore, scientists are working to understand the timeline of its disappearance and to uncover the factors that contributed to its loss.

Michael Manga, a geophysicist at the University of California, Berkeley, highlights the importance of oceans, stating, “Oceans play a crucial role on planets. They impact climate, shape planetary surfaces, and can create potentially habitable environments.”

With this in mind, scientists are eager to explore Mars’ history of water to understand its potential for past life.

Zhurong Mars Rover Data Unlocks New Insights

The findings were made possible using data from the Chinese National Space Administration’s (CNSA) Zhurong Mars rover. A Chinese-American research team, led by engineer Jianhui Li and geologist Hai Liu from Guangzhou University, has provided more insight into the question of water on Mars, revealing there was enough liquid to fill an ocean.

During its journey across the Utopia Planitia, Zhurong utilized ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to measure the Martian surface up to 80 meters (260 feet) deep. This technology sends radio waves into the ground and analyzes how they bounce back from materials of varying densities, creating a 3D map of underground structures.

Previous studies using Zhurong data suggested the presence of a shoreline, but the evidence wasn’t conclusive. However, the GPR data has now revealed thick layers of material along Zhurong’s route, which slope upwards toward a supposed shoreline at an angle of 15 degrees—similar to ancient shorelines on Earth.

Manga remarks, “The structures don’t resemble sand dunes, impact craters, or lava flows. That’s when we began considering oceans.”

Evidence of Waves, Tides, and a Water Cycle on Mars

The alignment and slope of these features further support the theory of a long-standing ocean, where sand-like beach deposits accumulated over time. This suggests that Mars had a water cycle for millions of years, similar to Earth, with waves, tides, and rivers transporting sediment to the shore.

“The size of the water body determines the intensity of tides,” Manga says. “With larger bodies of water, tides and waves become more pronounced, shaping beaches.”

Although Mars lacks Earth’s Moon—responsible for Earth’s tidal forces—solar influence and wind could have also played roles in Martian tides and waves, much like Earth’s oceans.

The discovery strengthens the case for Mars having once had conditions suitable for life, suggesting it may have been a habitable environment in its distant past. It also provides a promising location for future exploration to search for signs of ancient life on the Red Planet.

Manga notes, “Coastal environments where water, land, and atmosphere meet are potential habitats. Identifying where and when these environments existed can guide our exploration efforts.”

Shorelines: A Key Search Area for Evidence of Life

Shorelines are considered prime locations to search for past life, as similar regions on Earth are thought to be where life first emerged, where water and air meet.

Recent research by Manga’s team suggests that much of Mars’ water may have been absorbed into its interior, where it could still reside in vast, hidden liquid reservoirs. This new discovery could be a key piece in solving the mystery of Mars’ water-rich past.

The next step is to further investigate the idea of liquid oceans on Mars and model how those ancient waves and tides might have functioned.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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