Latest news with #ExoMarsTraceGasOrbiter
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Mars may hold a massive water reservoir, enough to flood the planet up to nine feet
Mars may be hiding a vast stash of water beneath the Medusae Fossae Formation (MFF) near its ice-rich deposit could be the largest known water reservoir in this part of Mars, with an estimated volume comparable to Earth's Red Sea. If melted, it has the potential to flood the entire planet in nine feet of water, scientists data from the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding (MARSIS) suggests the underground water reservoir extends up to 2.2 miles (3.7 km) deep—far more than previously thought. 'We've explored the MFF again using newer data from Mars Express's MARSIS radar and found the deposits to be even thicker than we thought,' said Thomas Watters, lead author of the study and a scientist at the Smithsonian Institution. 'Excitingly, the radar signals match what we'd expect from layered ice, similar to Mars' known polar ice caps.' The MFF has long intrigued scientists due to its size and unusual composition. Stretching for hundreds of miles and rising over a mile high in places, it marks the transition between Mars' northern lowlands and southern highlands. The formation has been a focal point of scientific debate, with theories ranging from it being a massive accumulation of windblown dust to layers of volcanic ash or sediment. Early observations suggested the MFF contained ice, as radar scans revealed a structure both transparent to signals and unusually low in density. But alternative explanations persisted—until now. Researchers believe that the MFF plays a crucial role in shaping the Martian environment. Its dust-rich deposits, which have been sculpted by wind into striking ridges, have been influencing the planet's atmosphere for millions of years. Scientists suspect that underneath this layer lies a vast store of ice. 'This latest analysis challenges our understanding of the Medusae Fossae Formation and raises as many questions as answers,' said Colin Wilson, ESA project scientist for Mars Express and the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. 'How long ago did these ice deposits form, and what was Mars like at that time? If confirmed to be water ice, these massive deposits would change our understanding of Mars' climate history. Any reservoir of ancient water would be a fascinating target for human or robotic exploration.' Mars' poles contain vast ice reserves, but their harsh terrain and energy challenges make them unsuitable for human landings. As scientists prefer landing crewed missions near the equator, the discovery of equatorial ice could offer a strategic advantage to scientists and engineers. Water on Mars could be used for drinking, oxygen generation, and even fuel production, reducing reliance on Earth-based supplies. 'The MFF deposits, buried under extensive dust layers, remain out of reach for the time being,' said Colin Wilson, ESA project scientist for Mars Express and the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. 'Yet, each discovery of Martian ice enriches our understanding of the planet's hydrological history and current water distribution.' Beyond its role in exploration, the discovery offers new insights into Mars' past climate. The presence of deep equatorial ice suggests a drastically different environment in the planet's history Scientists believe the MFF's ice, protected by layers of dust or ash, could reveal clues about Mars' ancient, water-rich past. The full study was published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
New Data Shows Mars' Red Hue May Have Come From A Different Source Than Previously Thought
Scientists may finally know what gives Mars its red hue, and it's turned the previous theory on its head. It has long been thought that the Red Planet got its coloring due to rusted iron minerals within the dust on the surface. Since observations by spacecraft didn't detect any evidence of water on the planet, it was believed that the iron oxide came from hematite, forming through reactions with the planet's atmosphere over billions of years, CNN reported. This theory meant that the hematite would have formed later in Mars' history after the planet's lakes and rivers disappeared. But new findings published in February in the journal Nature Communications have shown that iron within Mars' rocks may have reacted with both water and oxygen to create iron oxide, just like what happens on Earth. That iron oxide broke down over billions of years, creating the planet's famous red dust. (MORE: Five Must-See Night Sky Events This March) 'There are ways to form oxidized iron without water, and some proposed dry processes include surface oxidation like the oxidation rinds that form in rocks in the Antarctic Dry Valleys, and surface oxidation by abrasion as the surface is blasted with sand grains over long periods. But there are also lots of ways to oxidize with water too, including in soils and lakes,' Briony Horgan, co-investigator on the Perseverance rover mission and professor of planetary science at Purdue University, told CNN. The type of iron oxide now believed to be responsible for Mars' coloring is called ferrihydrite, which forms quickly in cool water, and likely formed on the planet when water was still present on the surface before the planet chilled significantly, NASA reported. Scientists used data collected by the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter, the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter and NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and several NASA rovers. (MORE: Earth Will Have Second Moon For About Two Months) The scientists also recreated dust similar to that found on Mars using different types of iron oxide and grinding it finely similar to the dust on the planet. They then compared their creations to dust from Mars' surface. The findings change our understanding of Mars and its history. Ferrihydrite lending to Mars' red coloring could mean that there was more widespread water across the planet than previously thought. Both water and oxygen are important resources for a planet to host life, and for water to be present, the planet was likely at a more habitable temperature.
