Scientists Discover Possible Liquid Water Underground on Mars

TapTechNews August 13th news, scientists through analyzing the seismic data collected by the Mars probe InSight, found that there may be a large amount of liquid water underground on Mars. However, these water resources are deeply buried underground and currently inaccessible to humans.

According to TapTechNews, scientists have generally believed for a long time that Mars used to be a wet planet with rivers, lakes and even oceans. This view is supported by the mineral, topographical and geomorphic features such as ancient lake beds and deltas on the Martian surface. However, currently, the water on and near the surface of Mars mainly exists in the form of ice, and the amount is not enough to explain the wet climate conditions of Mars in the past.

In order to understand the history of the water cycle on Mars, scientists need to figure out where exactly the water on Mars has gone. Research shows that the water on Mars may be lost in two ways: one is to evaporate into gas and escape into space, and the other is to seep into the interior of Mars to form ice sheets or liquid reservoirs.

Researchers used the same geological model as that used to detect underground aquifers and oil fields on Earth to analyze the Martian seismic data collected by InSight. The results show that there may be a layer of igneous rock 7.2 to 12.4 miles (about 11.5 to 20 kilometers) below the Martian surface, and its fractures are filled with liquid water.

These underground water resources are too deep from the surface for humans to utilize in the short term. However, this discovery is of great significance for understanding the climate evolution, water cycle and potential habitability of Mars. In addition, it also provides new clues for the possibility of life on Mars.

This research result still needs further verification and requires more in-depth research and more accurate data to confirm the distribution and scale of underground water resources on Mars.

This research result was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.