Fresh Evidence Points To The Existence Of Liquid Water On Mars

Scientists have found new evidence for liquid water on Mars. According to an international team of scientists, there is liquid water beneath the south polar ice cap of Mars.

Results from this study were published in the journal Nature Astronomy, and provide the first evidence of liquid water on Mars using data other than the information obtained from radars.

PTI

Finding water on Mars' south pole

Researchers from the University of Cambridge and the University of Sheffield used spacecraft laser-altimeter measurements of the ice cap's upper surface shape in order to find subtle patterns in its height.

Then, scientists demonstrated how these patterns match predictions by computer models about how a water body beneath the ice cap would affect the surface. Their results were in sync with old radar measurements that were interpreted to show the potential of liquid water beneath the ice.

NASA

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Essentially, this new study puts to rest concerns over liquid water interpretation from radar data.

"This study gives the best indication yet that there is liquid water on Mars today because it means that two of the key pieces of evidence we would look for when searching for sub-glacial lakes on Earth have now been found on Mars," said Frances Butcher, one of the authors of the study from the University of Sheffield, PTI reported.

NASA

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"Liquid water is an essential ingredient for life, although it does not necessarily mean that life exists on Mars," Butcher added.

At such cold temperatures, the water beneath polar ice might be extremely salty. This means that microbial life might not exist there. But this points to the existence of habitable environments on Mars in the past.

What do you think about potentially finding liquid water on Mars? Let us know in the comments below.?For more in the world of?technology?and?science, keep reading?Indiatimes.com.

References

PTI. (2022, October 5). Scientists find new evidence for liquid water on Mars. Retrieved October 6, 2022, from https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/scientists-find-new-evidence-for-liquid-water-on-mars/article65971321.ece