In a groundbreaking collaboration, Chinese researchers joined forces with their international counterparts to uncover subsurface dipping reflectors on Mars. Their recent study, published in the journal PNAS, provides the most direct evidence yet of an ancient ocean on the red planet.
Previous orbital images hinted at the existence of ancient shorelines, suggesting that the northern lowlands of Mars might have been covered by an ocean spanning a third of its surface. However, this hypothesis remained debated due to inconsistent elevation data and the planet's tumultuous geological history, which includes impacts, weathering, and resurfacing processes that could obscure such evidence.
The latest findings help to resolve some of these controversies by offering clearer subsurface indicators of a former Martian ocean. This discovery not only enhances our understanding of Mars' climatic and geological past but also fuels the ongoing quest to determine the planet's potential to have supported life.
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Scientists provide evidence for existence of ancient ocean on Mars
cgtn.com
