The Mars Express space mission has brought a new discovery to the Red Planet. The study of the Medusae Fossae formation using radar signals has revealed the presence of frozen water. According to scientists, there is a high probability that there are enormous amounts of ice beneath the surface of this formation, which could have significant consequences for Mars if melted.
Thomas Watters and a team from the Smithsonian Institution decided to reanalyze the massive Medusae Fossae, this time using the latest data from the MARSIS radar used during the Mars Express expedition. It turns out that the sediments located there are much thicker than previously thought, reaching depths of up to 3.7 km.
However, the main discovery was the registration of radar signals similar to those observed in the case of layered ice or polar caps on Mars. This indicates the potential presence of massive amounts of frozen water beneath the surface of the Medusae Fossae formation. If such ice were to melt, it would result in the creation of a layer of water 1.5-2.7 m deep across the entire planet, resembling the Red Sea.
“The largest water deposits on Mars” – that’s how researchers describe this discovery. The MF deposit, rich in ice, is of great importance to Mars’ paleoclimate, and future human exploration of the planet could benefit from it. Located on Mars’ equator along the boundary between the northern plains and the highland craters, the Medusae Fossae massif would be an ideal landing site for future space missions.
According to scientists, the water deposits are traces of previous climatic epochs of the planet and could not have formed under current climate conditions. Although liquid water has not been detected on Mars so far, there is a possibility that much more ice is located beneath its surface than previously speculated. This discovery could have significant implications for further research and potential exploration of Mars.
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