Scientists Discover Oceans of Water Deep Beneath Mars
Recent seismic data from NASA's InSight lander reveals significant underground reservoirs of liquid water on Mars, reports ScienceDaily. This water could potentially fill oceans on the planet's surface, according to geophysicists' findings. Data indicates that this groundwater could blanket Mars at a depth of one to two kilometers, or roughly a mile.
Despite this promising news about the Martian water supply, accessing this water poses significant challenges. It lies in tiny fractures within rock located between 11.5 and 20 kilometers deep in the Martian crust. Even on Earth, drilling to depths like these is a formidable task. Consequently, while the underground water reservoirs are significant, they won't readily provide water for future Mars colonies.
Researchers see potential for new life exploration, despite the inaccessibility of this water. Vashan Wright, an assistant professor at UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography, emphasizes the importance of understanding Martian water. "Identifying where water is and how much exists is a crucial step toward unraveling the planet's climate evolution."
In a paper, co-authored with Michael Manga and Matthias Morzfeld, the team used advanced mathematical models traditionally employed to evaluate terrestrial aquifers. The seismic data collected points toward a deep layer of fractured igneous rock saturated with water. Igneous rocks, formed from cooled magma, resemble granite found in places like the Sierra Nevada.
Manga, a professor at UC Berkeley, stated that identifying this substantial reservoir provides insight into Mars' climatic conditions past and present. "Hydration is essential for life," he remarked, asserting that such an environment could potentially support life forms. Deep ecosystems on Earth validate this possibility, with life existing in deep mines and the ocean's depths.
Manga and his team noted a wealth of geological evidence—river channels, deltas, and lake deposits—that suggests water once flowed on Mars' surface. However, this wet era ended over three billion years ago when the Martian atmosphere dissipated. There remains great interest in understanding where that water went, as the polar ice caps cannot fully account for it.
Recent findings suggest that a significant quantity of water infiltrated Mars' crust rather than escaping to space. The InSight lander was designed to probe various layers of Mars' structure. Assuming a uniform crustal composition, the team speculated the mid-crust zone might hold more water than what previous theories estimated for ancient Martian oceans.
The InSight mission, initiated by NASA in 2018, recorded essential data regarding Mars' crust, mantle, and core. Manga praised the mission's accomplishments, highlighting insights on seismic activity and planetary geology garnered before the mission's conclusion in 2022.
Prior research indicated that the upper crust lacks frozen groundwater at accessible depths, suggesting limited accessible water outside polar areas. The new findings reinforce that a saturated mid-crust is likely present below the InSight landing site.
The research received support from organizations such as the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Office of Naval Research.
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