Recent studies have unveiled intriguing new evidence suggesting that Mars may harbour vast quantities of water trapped deep within its crust. This discovery raises fresh hopes and questions about the potential for life on the red planet.
For years, scientists have debated the history of water on Mars. It was once believed that Mars had a surface teeming with lakes, rivers, and even oceans. However, as the planet’s atmosphere gradually thinned, these bodies of water vanished, leaving only the permafrost ice observed at the poles today.
While some water is known to have escaped into space, research now indicates that a significant portion may have been absorbed into minerals, buried as ice, or even persisted as liquid in the planet’s crust.
Recent calculations suggest that substantial amounts of liquid water may be trapped in rocks located approximately 11.5 to 20 kilometres below Mars' surface. This new estimate proposes that the volume of liquid water in the Martian crust could surpass the amount believed to have once filled ancient Martian oceans.
The findings are based on gravity data from Mars and measurements from NASA’s InSight lander, which detected variations in seismic wave speeds caused by Marsquakes and meteorite impacts.
The data indicate that the mid-crust of Mars, which is characterized by fractured rocks, might be filled with liquid water. If the measurements are indicative of conditions across the entire planet, the water trapped in these rock fractures could theoretically form a subsurface ocean up to 1-2 kilometres deep.
The study highlights the importance of water as a potential indicator of habitability. While the presence of water alone does not guarantee the existence of life, it is a crucial ingredient for life as we understand it. On Earth, groundwater systems are known to harbour life, and the discovery of water on Mars could significantly influence future explorations aimed at finding signs of life.
Experts agree that a definitive measurement of deep liquid water on Mars is needed to confirm these findings and pinpoint its exact location. Such discoveries would not only advance our understanding of Mars’ geological history but also inform the search for extraterrestrial life.
Despite the excitement, some researchers remain cautious about the practical implications of this water discovery. While the potential volume of water in the Martian crust is considerable, accessing or utilizing this resource for future human missions to Mars could be challenging.
The study also offers valuable insights for planetary scientists and geologists. Identifying liquid water within Mars’ crust could enhance our understanding of the planet's internal structure and dynamics.