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FACTS ABOUT WATER ON MARS

Added on: 7th Jul 2016

 

EXTENSIVE GLOBAL WARMING COULD TURN

MARS INTO A MASSIVE SWIMMING POOL

MarsTransition

On average about 2 miles (3 km) thick, if the Martian ice caps

melted, the entire planet would be covered by 18ft (5.6m) of water.

 

 

THE COMPOSITION OF THE ICE CAPS

Radar_cross_section_of_north_polar_ice_cap_of_Mars

The Martian ice caps are complex structures. Stacks of water ice

and dust appear to be layered near the bottom, topped by

caps of water ice then solid carbon dioxide (dry ice)

which resembles freshly fallen snow.

 

 

EVIDENCE OF AN ANCIENT LAKE

MarsCuriosityRover-AncientLake

The Curiosity rover found evidence of a shallow ancient lake on

Mars. Stretching 30 miles by 3 miles (50 x 5kms), the lake is

estimated to have existed on the planet’s surface for tens

of thousands of years, possibly frozen over.

 

 

WATER IS NOT JUST FROZEN IN THE ICE CAPS

Ice_sheet_between_Qikiqtarjuaq_and_Cape_Dyer_on_Baffin_Island,_Nunavut,_Canada

Scientists now think water on Mars may not only be trapped

in the polar caps, but also in other subsurface areas around

the planet. So far, a massive ice sheet the size of Germany,

Sweden, and Japan combined has been found north of the

equator. The ice sheet is believed to extend to a depth

of 130ft (40m).

 

 

EVIDENCE FOR MARTIAN RIVERS AND LAKES

MarsCuriosityRover-SheepbedMudstone

On our planet (and presumably all planets with flowing water), the

land bordering rivers and lakes is wetter than land further afield.

Scientists have found evidence for the same kind of circumstances

on Mars. They even found the region around Mount Sharp likely

hosted a lake, identifiable by the presence of sediments

deposited in the lake bed.

 

 

FREQUENT ICE AGES AFFECT THE AMOUNT

OF AVAILABLE WATER ON MARS

Phobos_et_Mars_(Celestia)

Because Mars lacks a large moon like our own, it does not

hold onto a stable axial tilt like Earth’s 23.5° tilt. This has resulted

in significant wobbling which frequently takes the planet into

an ice age, altering the amount of water available for life to use.

 

 

LIQUID WATER CAN'T CURRENTLY EXIST ON MARS

Mars_Ice_Age

Mars is currently in the middle of one of these ice ages, making it

impossible for liquid water to exist until the planet warms up.

 

 

A MALFUNCTION LEADS TO A BREAKTHROUGH

Spirit_Mars_Silica_April_20_2007

After one of the Spirit rover’s wheels stopped functioning, it dug

deep as it ploughed across the surface. This malfunction

accidentally revealed strong evidence for water on Mars.

Dirt turned up by the wheel was rich in silica: the material in

quartz and window glass and a material which requires

water to form.

 


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