On Mars, the thickness of water ice at the equator reaches more than 3 thousand km – scientists
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At the equator of Mars, scientists have discovered an “ocean” with ice, the thickness of which is more than 3 km.
Previously, scientists found evidence of the existence of ice on Mars, but it was believed to be much less, reports Space.com with reference to the results of the European Space Agency’s Mars Express mission.
According to scientists from the Smithsonian Institute in the USA, ice was discovered in the “ocean”, the depth of which is from 1.5 to 2.7 meters.
It is noted that the ice deposits extend 3.7 km underground and are covered with solidified ash and dry dust hundreds of meters thick.
| Photo: European Space Agency |
The discovered ice is not a pure block because it is contaminated with dust, the researchers say.
“The radar signals indicate the presence of layered ice. These data coincide with data from surveys of the poles of the planet, where there is a lot of ice.”said lead researcher Thomas Watters.
According to scientists, the presence of underground water in the low and equatorial latitudes of the planet may indicate that the climate on Mars was completely different in the past.
They also suggest that the existence of ice may be the result of a change in the red planet’s axis.
According to scientists, in the future the location of the ice near the equator can be investigated during manned missions.
We previously reported that Mars probably didn’t have oxygen in the past, but it could have had life.
Read also: As if on Mars: in Texas, volunteers will live for a year in conditions similar to the Red Planet
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