New study suggests presence of concealed ocean beneath surface of Mars

New research suggests that a significant underground reservoir of water may exist on Mars, located about 11.5 to 20 km beneath the surface within cracks in underground rocks. This water could be enough to potentially form a global ocean. The findings, based on seismic measurements from NASA’s Mars InSight lander, indicate that Mars had surface water over 3 billion years ago, including rivers, lakes, and oceans. As Mars’ atmosphere thinned, the surface water likely seeped into the planet’s crust. Understanding this hidden water reservoir could provide crucial insights into Mars’ climate, surface, and interior evolution, according to the study led by Vashan Wright from UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Source-CGTN