Planet Mars taken from Hubble. Photo: ESA/HUBBLE/NASA
Jakarta - Recent research indicates that the arid surface of Mars may conceal remnants of ancient oceans, challenging our understanding of the Red Planet's history. Evidence suggests that Mars once harbored vast bodies of water, with new findings from scientists published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Prior studies have already hinted at Mars' watery past, as researchers documented networks of valleys and sedimentary rocks that signify flowing water. The latest breakthrough came from data analysis conducted using the underground imaging gathered by China's Zhurong rover.
"Zhurong was sent to the southern Utopia Planitia, close to where ancient shorelines were mapped using satellite data," explained Dr. Benjamin Cardenas, a co-author of the study from Penn State University. The findings reveal that the geological features in Mars' northern lowlands closely resemble coastal structures found on Earth, identified through ground-penetrating radar, suggesting that the surface materials slant toward buried bodies of water.
The study unveils that the Martian coastlines have shifted over time, revealing a series of descending features that lead northward into what is presumed to be an ancient sea. "In fact, it grew at least 1.3 kilometers northward towards the ocean," Cardenas stated, highlighting the dynamic geological environment that once existed.
"The structures are straightforward, yet they indicate that there must have been tides, waves, and rivers nearby supplying sediment, all of which were likely active over an extended period," he added. The researchers have ruled out alternative explanations such as volcanic activity, rivers, and sand dunes, as these do not align with the observed geological features.
This discovery opens up new possibilities for understanding Mars' potential habitability. "In environments like this, life first emerged on Earth, and I believe it would be an excellent location for subsequent missions to search for signs of past life," Cardenas remarked.
However, despite the intriguing notion of Martian coastlines, the similarities to Earth are limited. "While the Martian shores might be sandy, they lack palm trees and seagulls, and the climate would likely be quite frigid," Cardenas noted. "Nonetheless, I would love to see it. Reconstructing this ancient landscape is truly a remarkable fantasy."
