Scientists have unveiled a groundbreaking discovery: a reservoir of liquid water deep within the rocky crust of Mars. This finding, derived from a new analysis of data collected by NASA’s Mars InSight Lander, represents the first direct evidence of liquid water on the Red Planet.
The Mars InSight Lander, which landed on Mars in 2018, was equipped with a seismometer that recorded vibrations from the planet, known as Mars quakes, for four years. By analysing these seismic signals, scientists were able to detect signs of liquid water hidden beneath the Martian surface.
Previously, evidence of water on Mars was limited to frozen reserves at the poles and traces of vapor in the atmosphere. This discovery, detailed in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, provides the first evidence of liquid water on Mars, revealing reservoirs located about 6 to 12 miles (10 to 20 kilometers) beneath the surface.
“Understanding the Martian water cycle is crucial for comprehending the planet’s climate, surface, iand interior evolution,” said lead researcher Dr. Vashan Wright from UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Prof. Michael Manga of the University of California, Berkeley, who participated in the research, emphasised the significance of water in shaping planetary evolution, noting that this discovery answers the longstanding question of what happened to Mars’ ancient water.
Mars’ surface, marked by ancient river channels and lake beds, suggests that liquid water once flowed abundantly. However, the planet has been a desert for around three billion years, with much of its water lost to space as its atmosphere deteriorated. Prof. Manga pointed out that, like Earth, Mars might harbor substantial amounts of underground water, which could form a global layer more than half a mile deep if distributed evenly.
Despite this promising discovery, the water’s location poses challenges for potential Mars colonisation efforts. The reservoirs are situated 10 to 20 kilometers deep, making them difficult to access with current technology. Prof. Manga humorously noted that even ambitious plans, such as those proposed by Elon Musk, would face significant hurdles in drilling to these depths.
“It’s sequestered 10-20km deep in the crust,” explained Prof Manga. “Drilling a hole 10km deep on Mars – even for [Elon] Musk – would be difficult,” he added.
The discovery also renews hopes in the search for life on Mars. “Without liquid water, you don’t have life,” said Prof. Manga. “If there are habitable environments on Mars, they may be found deep underground where this water is located.”
The Mars InSight mission, which concluded in December 2022, has provided invaluable data about the Martian interior. With these new insights, scientists continue to explore the potential for life and the planet’s geological history, marking a significant step forward in our understanding of Mars.
Melissa Enoch
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