Can exist 'liquid water' on Mars

New data from NASA's Curiosity planetary exploration ship shows that there is water in the surface of Mars in liquid form.

On Mars may exist "liquid water"

For a long time we know that on Mars there is water in the form of ice . But now, new data from NASA's Curiosity self-propelled vessel shows liquid water on Mars's surface .

Picture 1 of Can exist 'liquid water' on Mars
On Mars may exist liquid water.(Photo: nbi.ku)

Scientists from the University of Copenhagen said water is not frozen because of calcium perchlorate salt , which is found in the soil of Mars. This substance has reduced the level of freezing so water does not close to ice but exists in very salty liquid (salt water). The researchers specifically presented these findings in the journal Nature.

The area where scientists conduct the test is called Gale Crater , located south of Mars's equator. The giant crater has a diameter of about 100 miles (~ 161km) and a volcanic rim about 3 miles high (~ 5km). In the middle of the volcano is Mount Mount Sharp, where the Curiosity vessel has explored.

Calcium perchlorate is a material that can absorb water vapor in the atmosphere, detected in Mars soil and tools of Curiosity autonomous probes showing the conditions for this absorption process to occur. only exists at night when the sun goes down in winter.

'Based on measurements of humidity and temperature at a height of 1.6 m and on the surface of this planet, we can estimate the amount of water absorbed. When night falls, a little bit of water vapor in the atmosphere condenses on the surface of the planet like dew, and calcium perchlorate is very absorbent and thus it creates a water form of salt, so what we see is water seeps into the ground ', according to Morten Bo Madsen, Mars leader at the University of Copenhagen.

'Over time, other salts can also dissolve in the soil and now they are liquids that can move and precipitate below the surface.'

Observations made from the probe's stereo digital camera have previously shown areas typical of an old riverbed with round pebbles from which one could speculate that there was a degree of flow. about 1m deep at this place. Now, close-up shots recorded by the probe on the way to the Mount Mount peak show that there are large deposits of sediments like overlapping 'plates' .

Madsen explains: ' These types are created when a large number of flows flow down the volcanic slopes and these streams meet lakes. When the flow meets the surface, the material is carried by the cascades of water falling down, and stagnates at the lake shore. "

" Gradually, the slightly sloping slope is formed below the surface of the water and the same trail is found during the exploration of the ship to the Mount Mount peak. Fine sediments deposited into the water are transferred to the bottom of the lake The results show that the entire Gale volcano can be a large lake. '

But even though liquid water can exist, it doesn't mean that there is life on Mars as well, because the planet has very harsh conditions and cosmic radiation is also very powerful. It penetrates at least 1 meter and can kill all life.