Mars under pressure: Gigantic water reservoir discovered!
Mars under pressure: Gigantic water reservoir discovered!
discovery of an underground water reservoir on the Mars
The latest research on the surface of Mars show fascinating facts about our neighboring world. A team of scientists under the direction of Vashan Wright at the University of California in San Diego has evaluated remarkable data that was collected by the Marssonde "Insight". This information indicates that there could be a huge water reservoir under the surface of Mars, which contains enormous amounts of water.
meaning for Marsforschung
The discovery of such a reservoir is of great importance for several reasons. Scientists assume that the layers of rock that are at a depth of 10 to 20 kilometers could contain so much water that it would be sufficient for one or two kilometers deep ocean on earth. This could have far -reaching consequences for our understanding of Mars history and its development processes.
historical water sources on the Mars
The investigation shows that there were large amounts of liquid water on the surface of Mars over three billion years ago. These findings are based on various images that were taken from several Mars probes and cover the traces of rivers, lakes and even a large ocean. Scientists suspect that part of this water may have been peeled underground after the thin Mars atmosphere was almost completely lost.
The challenges of future use
Despite the exciting messages, it is important to note that the water at these depths would hardly be accessible to future Mars colonists. It is enclosed in the pores and cracks of the magmatic rock, which makes extraction extremely difficult. The Wright team also notes that such a layer is still very significant if you think of the possible presence of microbes.
Search for microbial life
The thesis that microbes could be in these water -containing layers of rock is not far -fetched. Scientists have found that in extreme environments on earth microbes can even exist in large depths in the rock. "Water is necessary for life as we know it," explains Michael Manga, a colleague from Wright. The layers in the Marsboden are therefore a primary goal for researching microbial life on the red planet.
FAZIT
Overall, this discovery illustrates the complexity and the potential of Mars as a habitat, even in the depths below the surface. While the challenges of water extraction remain, research on these water -containing rock layers could provide important indications of the question of the existence of life on Mars. The developments in Mars missions are therefore of great importance for the future exploration of space.