Recent research has revived a theory that could change our understanding of red planet. For decades, scientists have wondered whether a vast ocean covered part of the surface of March billions of years ago. Now, new evidence promises to shed light on this enigma. In this article we tell you everything you need to know.
Is there an ocean on Mars?
The region known as Utopia Planitiain the northern Martian hemisphere, was the epicenter of this fascinating research. A team from Hong Kong Polytechnic Universitythrough a combination of satellite data and observations from the Zhurong rover, identified geological evidence suggesting that Mars had, in the past, an ocean that covered a third of its surface.
Among the characteristics observed, the structures reminiscent of coastlinessuch as craters with eroded cones, sedimentary channels and formations shaped by freeze-thaw cycles. These signals are consistent with the existence of large masses of liquid water.
Analyzes They placed this ocean around 3.680 million years agoat a time when Mars may have had a warmer and more humid climate.
Although this vast expanse of water disappeared about 260 million years agoprobably due to extreme climatic changes, its presence has left unmistakable traces on the surface of the planet, offering key clues about its evolution.
The link between this ocean and the possibility of life on Mars
The discovery of these geological formations confirms the past presence of liquid water and also strengthens the hypothesis that Mars could have been habitable in the past. Water is essential for life, and an ocean of this size would have been an ideal place for microbial life forms to emerge.
Additionally, sediments detected by the Zhurong rover, as well as observations made during previous missions, suggest that This ocean was covered in layers of ice. These layers would have acted as a protective barrier against solar radiation and meteorite impacts, allowing a biologically favorable environment to develop beneath their surface.
He discovery of mud volcanoesformations that indicate geothermal activity, also reinforces this possibility. These underground processes would have generated heat, creating an ecosystem with more stable temperatures and temperatures. conditions potentially conducive to life for a long time.
As new missions are carried out and existing data is analyzed with more advanced technologies, we will get closer to answering one of the most important questions:life existed on mars and therefore in another corner of the universe?
