Scientists have discovered proof of an historical ocean on Mars which they are saying will increase the “potential for life”.
Topography maps had been intently analysed by researchers, who discovered traces of a northern hemisphere ocean that skilled sea degree rises according to a heat and moist local weather.
Experts have lengthy debated the potential of life on Mars and whether or not it had been dwelling to oceans.
The information relies on “recently released” topography and the findings assume that “erosion has not significantly reshaped the Martian surface over the last 3.5 billion years”.
Researchers had been capable of present “definitive evidence” of a shoreline with “substantial sedimentary accumulation” which was a minimum of 900m thick masking hundreds of sq. miles.
Benjamin Cardenas, an assistant professor within the geosciences division at Pennsylvania State University and the research’s lead writer, stated: “What immediately comes to mind as one of the most significant points here is that the existence of an ocean of this size means a higher potential for life.
“It additionally tells us concerning the historical local weather and its evolution.
“Based on these findings, we know there had to have been a period when it was warm enough and the atmosphere was thick enough to support this much liquid water at one time.
“On Earth, we chart the historical past of waterways by taking a look at sediment that’s deposited over time.
“We call that stratigraphy, the idea that water transports sediment and you can measure the changes on Earth by understanding the way that sediment piles up.
“That’s what we have performed right here – however it’s Mars.”
He said the area that was home to the ocean is now known by scientists as Aeolis Dorsa.
Read more:
Picture of Mars ‘doorway’ spawns conspiracy theories
Software developed by the US Geological Survey was used to map data from NASA and the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter, which was an instrument on a surveyor spacecraft which operated in the red planet’s orbit.
The study was published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.
The findings come a month after British scientists revealed they had found evidence which gave the “greatest indication but that there’s liquid water on Mars”.
Source: information.sky.com”