Houston, Texas – Planetary researchers made a groundbreaking announcement regarding the discovery of water frost patches on Mars, equating to “60 Olympic-size swimming pools.” This significant finding sheds light on the presence of water on the Red Planet, challenging previous understandings of its climate and geological features.
The thin layers of water frost were found atop three major Tharsis volcanoes on Mars, located on a plateau at the planet’s equator. The Tharsis volcanoes, known as the tallest volcanoes in our solar system, include Olympus Mons, Arsia Ascraeus Mons, and Ceraunius Tholus. The water frost, which researchers estimate to be at least 150,000 tons, transitions between the surface and atmosphere daily during the cold seasons.
Images captured by the European Space Agency’s ExoMars and Mars Express missions revealed over 30,000 images of the water frost, providing crucial data for the international research team. The unique microclimate created by air circulating above the calderas of the volcanoes is believed to enable the formation of these thin patches of frost.
The discovery challenges the traditional understanding of Mars’ climate and geological history, opening up new avenues for exploration and potential implications for the search for life beyond Earth. Adomas Valantinas, a postdoctoral fellow at Brown University and lead researcher, suggests that the presence of water frost may be a remnant of an ancient climate cycle on Mars, hinting at past precipitation and snowfall on the planet.
Valantinas, who began analyzing the images in 2018, expresses his fascination with the idea of a “second genesis” of life beyond our planet. The study was recently published in the journal “Nature Geoscience,” highlighting the global significance of this groundbreaking discovery. With ongoing advancements in Martian exploration, researchers are excited about the prospects of uncovering more secrets hidden within the Red Planet’s landscape.