What Happened to Mars’ Water? A latest Study offers a mindblowing answer

An analysis done by the University of Chicago of Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity rover data may added why the planet was probable a harsh desert for most of latest past.

The deep canyons on Mars shaped by ancient rivers showed that planed was once warm enough to help flowing liquid water.

But how did it transform into cold dry desert we see today and what caused this dramatic shift.

A latest study led by Edwin Kit scientist at University of Chicago offers latest explanation for this long standing mystery

Mars

Mars

Due to planet unqiue conditions these warm phases were short lived and Mars reverted to its dry inhospitable state.

Unlike Earth which has remained steadily habitable Mars appear to follow natural pattern that favors deser like condition over time.

The study builds on findings from NASA Mars Science Laboratory Curiosirt mission that were revealed in April the rover ultimately found rocks rich in carbonate mineral which could explain where Mars atmosphere went.

A Martian mystery

The explanation was made possible by Curiosity discovery revealed earlier this year of carbonate rich rocks on Mars surface.

This had been missing piece of puzzle for years the scientists added.

To have had liquid water, Mars had have a thicker atmosphere made up of greenhouse gas like CO2.

There is little atmosphere leaving a puzzle of where the carbon went.

“People have been looking for tomb for atmosphere for years” said Kite.

“It really is somethign you cannot know untile you have rover on surface” said study coauthor Benjamin Tutolo professor at University of Calgary

“The chemistry and mineralogy measurement they provide really are essential in our continuing quest to understand how and why planet stay habitable in order to search for hospitable wolrd out in universe”.

Mars has same makeup as Earth its a rocky planet with plenty of water and carbon near to sun to warmed but not cooked by it and today its a frozen desert while Earth fill with life.

Mars

Mars

For years scientists have searching for reply to why you are reading this from Earth and not Mars.

The mystery deepened when we were able to see river carved valley and old lakebeds on surface of Mars showing planet at some point did have climate that was warm enough for liquid water.

“Mars preserves a trace of that enviromental catastrophe in rocks on its surface” Kite said

“And today we are in golden age of Mars science with two plutonium powered rovers on surface and international fleet of spacecraft in orbit that permit us to deeply explore the planet for these traces”

When it comes to keeping planet balmy and mild is not enough to begin out that method there need to mechanism for stability over time that can reply to changes on and around the planet.

Scientist think Earth does this throug finely balance system that moves carbon from sky to rock and back again.

CO2 in atmosphere warms the planet but warmer temperature speed up reactions that lock up carbon dioxide into rock which finally counteracts the temperature rise.

Finally carbon leaks back out into atmosphere via volcanice eruptions.

Over million of years this cycle seems to have kept Earth stable and hospitable for life.

On Mars researchers said a similar cycle could take place but self limiting one.

It hinges on fact that our sun brightness rises very slowly over time about 8 percent per billion years.

As the sun brightens the scientist hypothesize liquid water starts running on Mars. But this water starts causing co2 to get lockied into rocks as it does on Earth which swings the planet back to cold and barren desert.

“In contrast to Earth where there are some volcanoes erupting. Mars right now is dormant and average rate of volcanic outglassing on Mars is slow

Kite said

“So in that situation you really have balance between carbon dioxide in and carbon dioxide out because if you have little bit of liquid water you are going to draw down carbon dioxide through carbonate formation”

Mars

Mars

The group buil models showing how these swings could occur.

They said that Mars experience short periods of liquid water followed by 100 million year long periods of desert.

Needless to added a 100  million year long gap in habitability is worse for life.

Why does Mars look yellow, purple and orange in ESA’s surprising latest satellite photos?

Stunning colors and features are captured in latest image of Mars’ surface.

Mars shows off its swirling yellows oranges browns in latest satellite images from European Space Agency ESA.

The Earth toned surface reveals an impace crater and four sneaky dust devils making their method across the region.

The Rothko like photo was taken by high resolution camera on ESA Mars Express orbiter and captures Arcadia Planitia an area of Mars critical to research about planet past and its potential to house humans in future.

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space epoch

Arcadia Planitia

Northwest of the tallest volcanoes in solar system Arcadia Planitia is region of intrigue.

Its fill with solidified lava flows that are 3 billion years old.

The region is thought to host water ice close to planet surface making it region of interest when planning futrure mission to Mars according to statement from ESA.

Arcadia Planitia is home to dust devils short lived columns of wind akin to little tornadoes.

Dust devils from when the Martian surface warms air just above it leading air to climb and pulling dust with it.

The new photo shows four dust devil as snake their method across the plains of area.

Easy to overlook you can spit them whitish puffs of dust near center of photos straddling the boundary between darket brown and lighter red parts of plain.

A mega impact crater sits in right corner of images and measure 9 miles across according to ESA.

The formation of layered material around crater is evidence that ground encompassed amounts of water ice during impace and lack of erosion of crater dates it relatively latest on geological timeline.

Chinese Space

CSA

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