A group of scientists has made an unexpected statement: there could be huge water reserves hidden in the bowels of Mars. According to researchers, liquid water may be located at a depth of 11.5 to 20 kilometers beneath the surface of the red planet. Vashan Wright from the Oceanography Institute of Skripps, a co-author of the study, believes that the volume of fluid could exceed the magnitude of the ancient Martian Oceans.
These conclusions were drawn after scientists analyzed data on Mars’ gravity and measurements obtained using the NASA Insight landing module. The data shows how the speed of seismic waves caused by Mars’ meteorites changes when passing through the Martian crust.
Wright stated that the presence of liquid water in the cracks of rocks in the middle crust best explains both the seismic and gravitational phenomena observed. If the measurements taken at the Insight landing site are representative of the entire planet, then the volume of water contained in the rock cracks could fill an ocean with a depth of 1-2 kilometers.
Researchers suggest that the water may have seeped underground from the surface when the upper crust was warmer than it is now. This discovery also raises the intriguing question of the possibility of life on Mars, as water is considered a crucial ingredient for the formation of organic structures.
Professor Bethany Elmann from the KEK Institute of Space Studies stressed the importance of conducting thorough investigations to confirm the researchers’ findings. She pointed out that where there is liquid water on Earth, there is life, so if underground oceans do exist on Mars, they will be a key focus in the search for organic compounds.
John Wade from Oxford University expressed his belief that the presence of life on Mars would not be surprising, as the planet may have been more favorable for simple life forms in its early history compared to Earth. Dr. Stephen Benham from the Imperial College of London added that detecting liquid water in the middle crust could enhance geophysicists’ and geologists’ understanding of Mars’ internal structure and seismic activity.
However, Benham expressed doubts about underground water bodies becoming a resource for manned missions to Mars, citing challenges in accessing and utilizing the water. Even if the hypothesis is confirmed, the discovery may not significantly impact human exploration of Mars in the initial stages.