By Abbas Nazil
Scientists have uncovered a significant reservoir of hidden liquid water deep beneath Mars’ crust, offering vital clues to the planet’s ancient water cycle and raising new hopes for future exploration and the possibility of life.
The discovery, made possible through seismic data from NASA’s InSight lander, suggests that substantial amounts of water remain trapped beneath the Martian surface, despite the planet’s cold, arid appearance.
The international research team, which included scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, The Australian National University, and the University of Milano-Bicocca, analyzed seismic waves generated by two meteorite impacts and one marsquake.
By studying how these waves traveled through Mars’ crust, they detected a sharp drop in seismic velocities between depths of 5.4 to 8 kilometers—an indication of porous, saturated rock, likely filled with liquid water.
This underground reservoir is estimated to hold between 520 to 780 meters of global equivalent layer (GEL)—a measure indicating how deep the water would be if spread uniformly across Mars’ surface.
While this data was derived from only one location, it aligns closely with previous estimates based on atmospheric loss and mineral absorption, reinforcing the theory that much of Mars’ ancient water has not disappeared but has migrated underground.
Mars was once a wet planet with flowing rivers, lakes, and possibly oceans during the Noachian and Hesperian periods over three billion years ago.
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However, the planet transitioned into the cold and dry Amazonian period, leaving scientists to question the fate of its water.
Earlier theories suggested that solar winds stripped away much of Mars’ atmosphere and water into space, while other models proposed that water became chemically trapped in surface rocks.
This new seismic evidence adds weight to the hypothesis that a substantial portion of the planet’s water lies hidden beneath the surface.
The implications of this discovery are significant. Not only does it reshape our understanding of Mars’ climatic history and geology, but it also enhances the potential for life, past or present.
Liquid water is a fundamental requirement for life and could shield microbial organisms from harsh surface radiation.
Furthermore, such reservoirs could be crucial for future human missions, providing water for drinking, oxygen production, and agriculture.
Researchers emphasize that this is just the beginning. More missions with advanced seismometers and drilling tools are needed to verify these findings across different regions.
As exploration advances, Mars’ hidden water could play a pivotal role in humanity’s efforts to live beyond Earth.
