A groundbreaking study released on Monday reveals that an underground reservoir of water may be concealed beneath the surface of Mars, reigniting hopes about the Red Planet’s potential to harbor life.
Researchers estimate that this hidden water lies approximately 11.5 to 20 kilometers below the Martian crust, sequestered within cracks in subterranean rocks. The volume is believed to be so vast that it could form a global ocean, fundamentally altering our understanding of Mars’ geological history.
The discovery stems from seismic measurements collected by NASA’s Mars InSight lander, which operated on the Martian surface from 2018 to 2022. The lander’s seismometer meticulously recorded tremors, providing invaluable data about the planet’s interior composition.
“Understanding the Martian water cycle is critical for understanding the evolution of the climate, surface, and interior,” said Vashan Wright, planetary scientist at the University of California, San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and lead author of the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Scientists have long theorized that Mars once hosted rivers, lakes, and oceans over 3 billion years ago. However, as the planet’s atmosphere thinned, it was believed that surface water was lost to space. The new findings suggest that instead of escaping entirely, significant amounts of water may have seeped into the crust, remaining hidden for eons.
This revelation offers fresh perspectives on Mars’ climatic evolution and enhances the significance of future missions seeking signs of past or present life. It also underscores the importance of continued exploration and study of our planetary neighbor.
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New study suggests presence of concealed ocean beneath surface of Mars
cgtn.com
