Scientists from the University of California, San Diego and Berkeley have made an exciting discovery regarding water on Mars. According to their research, there may be a significant amount of liquid water underground on the red planet, possibly enough to cover its entire surface with a depth of one to two kilometers. This discovery was made using data collected by NASA’s InSight lander during its four-year mission that concluded in 2022.
The scientists believe that this underground reservoir of water is located in the rocks that make up Mars’ midcrust, approximately 11.5 to 20 kilometers beneath the planet’s surface. While accessing this water may prove to be challenging, the researchers are optimistic about the implications of this discovery. Vashan Wright, an assistant professor at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and one of the study authors, emphasized the importance of understanding the Martian water cycle in relation to the planet’s climate, surface, and interior evolution.
In addition to the potential water reservoir on Mars, scientists have explored other methods to make the planet more habitable. One proposal involves introducing ‘glitter’ into Mars’ atmosphere to help trap heat and make the environment more hospitable for potential colonization efforts. Furthermore, recent discoveries of ‘super moss’ that could thrive in Martian conditions offer promising insights into sustaining life on the red planet.
The researchers utilized data gathered by InSight, particularly focusing on Marsquake waves’ speed, to develop a model that supports the existence of liquid water in the planet’s crust. By analyzing this data, they concluded that a water-saturated mid-crust is the most plausible explanation for the observations. This finding underscores the significance of geophysical measurements in understanding Mars’ composition and geological features.
Previous theories suggested that Mars had lost most of its water through atmospheric escape. However, the recent evidence challenges this notion, indicating that liquid water may still exist within the planet’s mid-crust. The presence of water in the crust implies certain conditions, such as adequate permeability and temperatures conducive to water exchange between the surface and deeper layers.
The study detailing these findings has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal, shedding new light on Mars’ geological history and potential for hosting liquid water. This discovery opens up exciting possibilities for future exploration and research endeavors focused on unlocking the mysteries of the red planet.
