The Chinese Mars Rover, Zhurong has recently discovered traces of salt water flows on the Red Planet.The traces of salt water flows on Mars, suggest that liquid water may still exist on the planet’s surface as the data collected by the rover indicates that these traces date back only 0.4 to 1.4 million years ago, which is fairly recent in astronomical terms.
The information gathered by the spacecraft has proved beyond a doubt that Mars was once a vastly dissimilar planet from the parched red desert we know today. In the remote past, rivers coursed across its surface, and permanent lakes left behind potent traces of sedimentary deposits. However, over time, Mars underwent an apocalyptic transformation, losing most of its atmosphere and, consequently, its water. Scientists now hypothesise that the remains of the planet’s water can be found in the form of frozen deposits which are primarily concentrated beneath the poles of the planet. This astonishing revelation has opened up new avenues of exploration and investigation into the planet’s intriguing past
Simultaneously, climate models suggest that in specific conditions, liquid water may emerge on certain regions of the Martian terrain. However, scientists lacked empirical confirmation of this notion until recently. Nevertheless, this newly acquired data has the potential to compel the scientific community to reassess their stance on the matter.
In fact, in a recent edition of the journal Science Advances, a group of scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences lead by Professor Qin Xiaoguang from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics (IGG) published an article detailing the evidence of water on dune surfaces of Mars with data from the rover providing concrete observational proof of liquid water at low Martian latitudes.
As the rover traversed the Utopia plain, it encountered a number of dunes displaying a crescent-shaped morphology, sculpted by the wind. The dunes were sometimes encrusted with a brilliant crust and a characteristic network of cracks. Spectral analysis of the crust revealed the presence of minerals linked to solar water. Furthermore, in the vicinity of one of these dunes, the rover detected a slender strip-like impression, measuring over 40 cm in length and 1.5 cm in width.
As per the researchers, these traces discovered by the Zhurong rover were shaped by liquid water that streamed between 0.4 and 1.4 million years ago. Presumably, the water was created by the thawing of frost or snow. This discovery is groundbreaking, as it indicates the potential presence of water and liquid water on Mars even today. This, in turn, has the potential to impact existing estimates of the likelihood of the existence of life on the Red Planet.
“This is important for understanding the evolutionary history of the Martian climate, looking for a habitable environment, and providing key clues for the future search for life,” says Professor Qin.