Scientists believe that Mars may have a lot of water stored beneath its surface. A recent study suggests that a retired NASA mission has found signs of significant underground water on the Red Planet. If this water were on the surface, it would likely be enough to form oceans, CNN reports.
The study mentions that astronauts aiming to reach Mars may have difficulty accessing the trapped water as it is buried at a depth of 11.5 km to 20 km below the surface. This discovery not only gives more information about the geological past of Mars but also indicates a potential new site to search for life, provided the water can be accessed.
These findings are based on data from NASA’s InSight lander, which studied the interior of Mars from 2018 to 2022.
Vashan Wright, the lead author of the study, emphasized that understanding the water cycle on Mars is important for understanding the planet’s climate, surface and interior changes. The geophysicist from the University of California suggests that a good first step is to detect and measure the amount of water present, CNN reported.
Water on Mars
Scientists believe that Mars was once a warm and humid planet, as evidenced by ancient lakes, rivers, and rocks altered by water. However, 3 billion years ago, Mars lost its atmosphere, leaving its surface dry.
The reason behind this atmospheric loss is still unclear, which has led to a number of missions to investigate Mars’ aqueous past, the fate of its water, and the possibility of life-supporting conditions in its history. While some water remains as ice at the poles, researchers doubt this accounts for all the water on the planet.
Theories about Mars’ water suggest that it may have turned into ice, escaped into space or seeped into the ground. The latest study indicates that the water may have seeped into the planet’s crust.
