☔️Water on Mars: New Details
Author: Հովհաննես Թորոսյան
Date: 8/15/2024
Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley have discovered a huge underground reservoir on the red planet.
The scientists combined seismic data from the InSight rover with rock physics models. These models, adapted from technologies for mapping oil and water deposits on Earth, allowed them to "look" deep beneath the surface of Mars.
The results of the analysis indicate the presence of a layer of crushed igneous rocks saturated with liquid water, 11.5 to 20 km thick. The total volume of water in this layer is equivalent to a global ocean 1 to 2 kilometers deep, covering the entire surface of the planet.
Interestingly, this water is in a liquid state, despite the great depth and low temperatures. Scientists suggest that the high salt content and pressure may play a key role in maintaining this state. Analysis of the isotopic composition of rocks indicates that a significant portion of the surface water may have migrated to the deep layers of the planet, rather than evaporated into space, as previously thought.
The presence of such a vast water reservoir increases the likelihood of microbial life on Mars. Researchers note that similar deep ecosystems exist on Earth, for example, in the groundwater of South Africa, where microorganisms have been found at a depth of more than 3 km.
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