Ingv researchers believe that liquid water would form on the dunes of the craters of Mars: this phenomenon would have repercussions on space missions.
A group of researchers from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (Ingv) observed a rare phenomenon On the dunes of Mars which could be linked to the presence of liquid watereven if only for short periods. The study, published in the magazine Geosciences of MDPI, throws New light on Martian geology and could have significant implications for the search for microbial life and for future space missions on the red planet.
A past rich in water. About 3.7 billion years agoMars hosted a much more dense atmosphere than the current one, with lakes and oceans that covered part of its surface. However, over time, much of the Martian atmosphere has been lost, making the stable presence of liquid water almost impossible due to the very low atmospheric pressure. Despite this, the Ingv researchers have discovered that, in particular conditions, water could still exist in liquid form, even if only temporarily.
Dunes, frost and liquid water. The research focused on the Russell Duna within the homonymous Martian crater. Analyzing 110 very high resolution images (up to 25 cm/pixels) collected by the probe Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (Mro) of the NASA over 8 years of Marzian (about 16 terrestrial years), the researchers observed a unique phenomenon: the possible presence of water in its triple point, or in a balance in which solid, liquid and gaseous states coexist.
«In the first days of MARZIAN SPRING and on the occasion of winds of windevery year on this dune water can appear in atmospheric conditions that allow its transitory presence to the liquid state “, explains Adriano Nardi, a researcher of the Ingv and the first author of the study. “It is a recurring seasonal cycle, which we have been able to observe thanks to the images of the Mro probe”.
The “linear gullies”: mysterious canals. The study also deepened the formation of particular channels, called Linear Gullieswhich are distinguished from the “classic” Martian calanche for their more linear form. «The genesis of gullies MARZIANI ‘Classici’ had been investigated by our previous study, which highlighted how the sources could produce those calanche through the seasonal merger of the permafrost, or the ice that remained trapped in the ground in past eras. This new research, however, has identified even rarer phenomena that produce channels other than classic ones, called Linear Gullies Because of their more linear form », adds Antonio Piersanti, research manager of the Ingv and co-author of the study.
These channels could be generated by the frost that forms on the top of the Russell Duna. “When the channels remain in the penumbra, traces of humidity absorbed by the sand are observed,” explains Antonio Piersanti, manager of the Ingv and co-author of the study. “Vice versa, When a canal is exposed to light, there is an immediate evaporation of the water that had been preserved liquidates up to that point».
Water in the three states. Normally, the Martian environment only supports the presence of dry icewhich can pass directly from the solid state to the gaseous state without becoming liquid. However, this study suggests that, in particular conditions, The water could exist simultaneously in its three states: solid, liquid and gaseous.
“It could be the first time ever that liquid water on Mars is observed,” says Nardi. “It is certainly the first time that the formation of the Linear Gullies to the action of liquid water on the red planet ».
Implications for the future. If confirmed, the presence of liquid water, even for short periods, could have significant consequences in some sectors starting from Marzian geology. In fact, the discovery could help to better understand the current and past geological processes of Mars. He would then imply in the search for life. Liquid water is a key element for life as we know it. His presence, even temporary, could open New perspectives for the search for microbial life forms. And finally it could have repercussion for space missions. Identify sites where liquid water could form at certain times of the year, it could be crucial to plan future missions, including those with human crew.
