Our knowledge regarding the Martian planet had been added with supplemental discovery in 2018. According to the observation, radar signals projected beneath the surface of the red planet bounced with a revealing structure.
Liquid Water Lake Structure Beneath Mars Surface
The signals showed a shining patch that seemed like a massive pool of water. More to the initial signals thrown, further underground observation manifested more of the shiny patches. Experts theorize that the findings could mean possible bodies of water, specifically lakes, are hidden underground on Mars.
The recent discovery has raised many questions as the multiple rovers sent before did not find a single drop of water evidence ever from Mars. But according to the new research published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters entitled "Characteristics of the Basal Interface of the Martian South Polar Layered Deposits," the regions that revealed multiple shiny patches are extremely cold even for liquid water. These regions of the planet are believed to comprise lower levels of temperature compared to Earth's freshwater.
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory expert Jeffery Plaut said that they are not completely sure to date as to whether the signals propose liquid water or not; however, this time, the findings are significantly detailed than their initial research conducted. Plaut added that the findings either liquid water are waiting to be discovered beneath the red planet's surface, or the signals meant something else yet to be discovered, reports Science Alert.
Using the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding, also known as MARSIS, the first signals were projected underneath the ice caps comprised of water ice and carbon dioxide layers located at the Martian south pole. Following the initial findings from MARSIS, the detailed sounding research included 3 more structures that seem like a lake.
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No Liquid Water Discovered Yet on Mars; Volcano Activity Clues are Dead End
University of Southern Queensland's planetary scientist Graziella Caparelli said that the possibility of the water bodies under the Martian surface is heightened by the radar findings itself. Caparelli emphasized that radar signals are reflected effectively by several materials, and among the most profound materials is liquid water. The scientist also noted that the signals from underground are stronger than the surface, indicating that liquid water might present beneath the Martian planet.
The MARSIS data have successfully mapped out 44,000 various area coverage through the 15 years of observation, covering the entire south pole of the planet. These underground structures have been containing sodium, calcium, and magnesium elements. The additional patches discovered have a low-temperature level of -63 degrees Celsius.
Combining the first and recent research, the layered deposits on the south pole cannot be melted easily due to the lack of salt amount on Mars in 2019; this conclusion was published as well in the journal Geophysical Research Letters entitled "Water on Mars, With a Grain of Salt: Local Heat Anomalies Are Required for Basal Melting of Ice at the South Pole Today."
To prove how the suspected water liquified underneath the surface, the experts theorized that the volcanic activities on Mars were the culprit. Unfortunately, this clue leads to a dead-end, as there were no recorded eruptions from Martian volcanoes on the planet's south pole. With that said, further mapping and research will be conducted regarding the mysterious lake formations beneath the red planet's surface and how they originated.
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