More than a decade and a half ago, Mars Express embarked on a journey to uncover the secrets of the surface of Mars, focusing on the enigmatic Medusae Fossai formation (MFF).
This interesting geological feature, initially studied for its extensive mineral deposits, remains a subject of speculation and curiosity. But today, thanks to new research, the veil on MFF is finally lifting.
Deep water in the Medusae Fossa layer on Mars
From Thomas Watters smithsonian museum American Ph.D. and lead author of both the original and recent studies, which shed light on these recent discoveries.
“We reexamined MFF using the following new data. Mars Express’s MARSIS radar“And we found that the deposits were even thicker than we thought, up to 3.7 km thick,” Watters said.
“Interestingly, the radar signal is consistent with what we would expect to see from layered ice, and is similar to the signal seen from the polar caps of Mars, which we know are very ice-rich.”
Enough water to fill the Earth’s Red Sea
This discovery has profound implications. If the ice within the Medusae Fosse layer melts, it could envelop Mars in a layer of water. Depth 1.5-2.7 meters.
This represents the largest reservoir discovered in this region of Mars, holding enough water to rival the volume of Earth’s Red Sea.
The Medusae Fosse Formation itself is a geological wonder, stretching for hundreds of kilometers and towering several kilometers high.
It is located at the intersection of Martian highlands and lowlands and may be a major source of Martian dust, one of the most extensive deposits on Earth.
Early studies of the Medusa fossa layer
Initial observations by Mars Express suggested the icy nature of the Medusae Fossai Formation due to its low radar penetration and density.
However, another theory proposes that this formation could be a huge accumulation of windblown dust, volcanic ash, or sediment.
“This is where new radar data comes in. Given its depth, if the MFF was just a giant dust pile, we would expect it to be compressed under its own weight,” said co-author Andrea Cicchetti. says. Italian National Institute of Astrophysics.
“This would actually produce something much denser than what we’re seeing with MARSIS. And when we modeled how different materials behave without ice, the MFF There was nothing that could replicate the properties of ice. You need ice.”
Rewriting the history of Mars
In our current understanding, MFF region It is composed of a layer of dust and ice, with a protective layer of dry dust and ash on top, suggesting it is several hundred meters thick.
Although Mars appears dry now, it shows signs of its water-rich past, including the remains of river channels, ancient ocean floors, and water-carved valleys.
The discovery of large amounts of ice near the Martian equator, similar to that discovered beneath the surface of the MFF, points to a fundamentally different climatic era in Mars’ history.
“This latest analysis challenges our understanding of the Medusae fossa and raises as many questions as it answers,” Mars Express and ESA ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO).
“How long ago did these ice deposits form, and what was Mars like at that time? If confirmed to be water ice, these huge deposits are It will change our understanding of climate history. Any ancient water reservoir would be an attractive target. Exploration by humans or robots”
Implications for future Mars exploration
The discovery of ice near the equator, such as the Medusae Fossai formation, will be invaluable for future Mars missions.
The mission requires landing near the equator, away from polar caps and high-latitude glaciers, and water is a critical resource.
But Wilson cautions that “MFF deposits, buried beneath extensive dust layers, remain out of reach for the time being.” But each discovery of Mars ice deepens our understanding of Mars’ hydrological history and current water distribution. ”
Mars Express will continue to map water ice deep beneath the surface, while the Mars rover TGO, equipped with the FREND instrument, will search for signs of water near the surface.
FREND’s detection of hydrogen-rich regions indicative of water ice in Mars’ Valles Marineris in 2021 and ongoing mapping of shallow water deposits further complement this understanding.
Colin Wilson concludes, “Our collective Mars exploration efforts are gradually uncovering the mysteries of our neighboring planet, offering glimpses of its past and future exploration possibilities.” Masu.
Uncovering the secrets of Mars
In summary, Mars Express’ recent discovery of the Medusae fossai formation represents an important milestone in our understanding of Mars and its climate history.
The discovery of a vast ice sheet overturns previous notions and reveals a potential treasure trove of water resources, enriching our knowledge of Mars and changing prospects for future exploration.
These revelations bring us closer to solving the mysteries of Mars and offer promising prospects for both scientific discovery and the prospects for human exploration.
As we continue our exploration and analysis, each data piece adds to the complex mosaic of Mars’ past, presenting an ever-evolving story of this fascinating planetary neighbor.
History of water on Mars
This study european space agency.
—–
Like what you read? Subscribe to our newsletter for fascinating articles, exclusive content and the latest updates.
—–
Check us out on EarthSnap, the free app from Eric Ralls and Earth.com. —–