Mysterious streaks in a Martian impact crater suggest the red planet still has an ACTIVE groundwater system hundreds of meters beneath the surface
- Researchers studied features on Mars’ Recurrent Slope Linea, which appear to have been created by streams
- Suggests active groundwater likely exists far beyond the Martian poles, in some cases as deep as 750 meters
- The researchers say groundwater system may be the best sign yet that Mars had long wet period in its past
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An active groundwater system may still be thriving on Mars hundreds of meters beneath the surface, according to new research.
Though recent studies have detected the presence of deep lakes near Mars’ south pole, features linked to water in areas closer to the equator have largely been attributed to flows at or near the surface.
But, a new investigation using data from Mars Express and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter now suggests groundwater is much more prevalent across the red planet than previously suspected.
Scientists now say active groundwater likely exists far beyond the Martian poles, in some cases as deep as 750 meters, and gives rise to surface streams that leave snaking streaks along many crater walls.
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The team studied high resolution images to analyze ground fractures along the walls of large impact craters, such as Mars’ Recurrent Slope Linea (pictured). And, they say these characteristics appear similar to features seen on Earth. Water sources as deep as 750 meters below the surface could be producing streams even outside of the poles
In the study, the team studied features observed on Mars’ Recurrent Slope Linea, which appear to have been created by short streams of water.
While it’s been suggested that these were the result of surface water flows, the researchers say ‘this may not be true.’
‘We propose an alternative hypothesis that they originate from a deep pressurized groundwater source which comes to the surface moving upward along ground cracks,’ said Essam Heggy, a member of the Mars Express Sounding radar experiment MARSIS.
The team studied high resolution images to analyze ground fractures along the walls of large impact craters.
And, they say these characteristics appear similar to features seen on Earth.
‘The experience we gained from our research in desert hydrology was the cornerstone in reaching this conclusion,’ said lead author Abotalib Z. Abotalib.
‘We have seen the same mechanisms in the North African Sahara and in the Arabian Peninsula, and it helped us explore the same mechanism on Mars.’
‘Groundwater is strong evidence for the past similarity between Mars and Earth – it suggests they have a similar evolution, to some extent,’ Heggy said.
According to the researchers, the newly hypothesized groundwater system may be the best sign yet that Mars had a long wet period in its past.
Water sources as deep as 750 meters below the surface could be producing streams in equatorial areas.
A separate study published earlier this year identified what’s said to be the first evidence of such a groundwater system. The researchers say numerous features seen on the crater floors at depths of 4,000-4,500 meters are suggestive of water, with evidence of pools and flows that changed over time. Some of these features can be seen in the deep basin, above
‘Understanding how groundwater has formed on Mars, where it is today and how it is moving helps us constrain ambiguities on the evolution of climatic conditions on Mars for the last three billion years and how these conditions formed this groundwater system,’
‘It helps us to understand the similarities to our own planet and if we are going through the same climate evolution and the same path that Mars is going.
‘Understanding Mars’ evolution is crucial for understanding our own Earth’s long-term evolution and groundwater is a key element in this process.’
‘Such depth requires us to consider more deep-probing techniques to look for the source of this groundwater versus looking for shallow sources of water,’ Heggy says.
WHAT SIGNS OF WATER HAVE RESEARCHERS FOUND?
A new study on data from the Mars Express satellite has now revealed the extent of an ancient groundwater system on the red planet.
Researchers found features that indicate the presence of past water at depths of 4,000-4,500m, including:
- Channels etched into crater walls
- Valleys carved out by groundwater
- Curved deltas that may have formed as water levels rose and fell
- Ridged terraces in crater walls from standing water
- Fan-shaped deposits of sediment
Researchers also found minerals linked to the emergence of life: clays, carbonates, and silicates.
Scientists have detected the first geological evidence of an interconnected system of water reservoirs deep beneath the surface of Mars. This includes channels, valleys, curved deltas, ridged terraces, and fan-shaped deposits of sediments, as illustrated above
