Massive water reservoir discovered beneath Marsian surface
New data from MARSIS indicate the existence of a massive water reservoir beneath the surface of Mars, which could cover the planet with a three-metre layer of water.
According to the Interesting Engineering portal, the latest research conducted by Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding (MARSIS) reveals that there is a huge water reservoir under the surface of Mars, in the Medusae Fossae region. Scientists believe its volume is comparable to the Red Sea.
New discoveries on Mars
Thomas Watters, the lead author of the study from the Smithsonian Institution, emphasizes that the new data indicate a much greater depth of the reservoir, reaching 3.7 kilometres.
The Medusae Fossae Formation has long fascinated scientists due to its size and unusual composition. This formation, stretching for hundreds of kilometres, serves as a transition between the northern lowlands and the southern highlands of Mars. Previous observations suggested the presence of ice, but it has only now been confirmed.
Significance of the discovery for future missions
Colin Wilson from ESA highlights that the discovery of ice in Mars' equatorial region could have strategic importance for future crewed missions. Water on Mars could be used for the production of oxygen, drinking water, and even fuel, reducing the dependency on supplies from Earth.
This discovery not only opens up new possibilities for exploration but also provides significant information about Mars' climatic past. The presence of deep ice deposits in the equatorial region suggests that Mars might have once had a much wetter environment.
