so big they could flood the planet – La Nación

2024-09-03 21:34:38

The probe Mars Expressfrom the European Space Agency (ESA), has discovered that the extensive deposits of several kilometers that exist under the surface of the equator of Mars are deeper than previously thought and suggest the presence of ice, so much so that it would be the largest amount of water discovered in this part of the planet.

The Mars Express mission has been exploring the red planet for two decades. Just over 15 years ago, while studying the formation of Medusae Fossae (MFF), located on the equator, found huge deposits up to 2.5 km deep, but could not clarify what their contents were.

«We have re-explored Medusae Fossae using more recent data from Mars Express’ MARSIS radar, and found that the deposits are even thicker than we thought: up to 3.7 km thick“, details Thomas Watters, of the Smithsonian Institution (USA), lead author of the new research

And the signals detected by MARSIS are “very similar” to those of the polar caps of Mars, “which we know are very rich in ice,” he points out.

In fact, these deposits are so large that if they were to melt, the buried ice would cover the entire planet with a layer of water between 1.5 and 2.7 meters deepenough to fill the Earth’s Red Sea.

The existence of this large mass of ice will help us understand how the planet’s climate evolved, but above all, it will be essential as a supply for future manned missions, the authors stress.

Location of the Medusae Fossae Formation (MFF) at the Red Planet’s equator. Photo: ESA

Ice deposits under Medusa Fossae

The MFF is characterized by several wind-sculpted features, hundreds of kilometers in diameter and several kilometers high, which lie on the border between the highlands and lowlands of Mars and are possibly the largest source of dust on the Red Planet.

Early observations by Mars Express revealed the MFF to be relatively radar-clear and low-density — typical characteristics of ice deposits — but at the time it could not be ruled out that it was a giant accumulation of dust, volcanic ash or wind-blown sediment.

The new analysis suggests that it hosts layers of dust and ice, covered by a thick protective layer of dust several hundred meters thick.

Although Mars is an arid world today, it once had an abundance of water, with dried-up river channels, ancient ocean and lake beds, and water-carved valleys.

Significant ice reserves have also been found, including massive polar ice caps, buried glaciers near the equator, and near-surface ice that extends across the Martian soil.

If all the suspected water ice in the MFF were to melt, it would cover Mars in an ocean of water up to 2.7 m deep. Photo: ESA

Supply for future human missions

“How long ago did these ice deposits form and what was Mars like at that time? If confirmed to be water ice, these massive deposits would change our understanding of Mars’ climate history. Any ancient water deposits would be a fascinating target for human or robotic exploration,” says Colin Wilson, ESA project scientist.

The extent and location of these MFF icy deposits would also make them potentially very valuable for our future exploration of Mars.

Missions to Mars will need to land near the planet’s equator, far from ice-rich polar caps or high-latitude glaciers, but they will need water as a resource, so finding ice in this region is almost a necessity for human missions to the planet.

“Unfortunately, these MFF deposits are covered by hundreds of meters of dust, making them inaccessible for at least the next few decades. But every piece of ice we find will help us get a better idea of ​​where Martian water has flowed before, and where it may be today,” Wilson said.