Envirocast® On-Line Feature of the Week -- December 12, 2006


 Possible Water Deposits on Mars
 

NASA scientist found two new deposits in two separate craters on Mars which they believe were caused by liquid water breaking through to the surface for a short amount of time.  Liquid water on the surface could have profound implications on the theory that there is microbial life on Mars

Crater with New Deposit

Credits: NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

The image above is of an unnamed crater in the Centauri Montes Region.  You can see the new deposit as a white line in the upper left portion of the crater.

Zoom In: Side by Side Comparison


Credits: NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

A side by side comparison of images taken in August 1999 and September 2005.

Close Up: Before and After Comparison


Credits: NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

Close up comparison of before (August 1999) and after (September 2005).

 

Crater with New Deposit

Credits: NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

The image above is of an unnamed crater in the Terra Sirenum Region.  You can see the new deposit as a white line in the upper left portion of the crater.

Zoom In: Side by Side Comparison


Credits: NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

A side by side comparison of images taken in December 2001 and August 2005.

Close Up: Before and After Comparison


Credits: NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems

Close up comparison of before (December 2001) and after (August 2005).

Related Information:

  • Ice and water vapor are both known to exist on Mars, but liquid water is what is needed to sustain life.

  • These new deposits show many characteristics of being caused by water and not the dry Martian dust being blown, which would appear darker.

  • Scientists believe these deposits could be caused by frozen groundwater melting, coming to the surface, and flowing down a slope.

  • Due to the thin atmosphere and extreme cold any liquid water on the surface would very quickly evaporate or freeze.

  • These new findings lend more credibility toward the theory that microbial life may exist on Mars.

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