Mars may have once possessed a massive ancient ocean in a world that was warm, moist, and utterly different from the harsh, frozen wasteland people see now.
New topographical maps of Mars conclude that the planet formerly had an old northern ocean with increasing sea levels.
Science Alert said the latest discovery is based on sediment layers discovered near the ocean's borders that are considered to have existed 3.5 billion years ago.
Traces of Giant Ocean Found on Mars
The images provide the most convincing evidence that the planet's present harsh, frozen surface is different from how it formerly appeared and that sea levels increased during a protracted period of warm, humid weather, according to a statement from Penn State University.
The study's principal author, Benjamin Cardenas, an assistant professor of geosciences at Penn State, said there had been a protracted discussion among scientists over whether Mars' low-elevation northern hemisphere contained an ocean.
Using topographical information, the study team demonstrated the existence of a 3.5 billion year old shoreline with sedimentary accumulation at least 900 meters deep and covered hundreds of thousands of square kilometers.
Using software developed by the USGS, researchers mapped information from NASA and the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter.
To prove that the fluvial ridges might be the remains of an ancient Martian shoreline that has eroded into river deltas or undersea channel belts, they discovered about 6,500 kilometers of fluvial ridges and arranged them into 20 systems.
The team could comprehend the history of the region's paleogeography by examining aspects of the rock formations, such as ridge-system thicknesses, elevations, locations, and probable sedimentary flow routes.
Cardenas pointed out that the area, which was then an ocean and is now known as Aeolis Dorsa, has the highest density of river ridges on Mars.
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Most Compelling Evidence
Cardenas underscored that the ancient sedimentary basins have stratigraphic records of changes in Earth's climate and life. If researchers wish to locate signs of life on Mars, he claimed that the ocean that last covered Aeolis Dorsa would be the best place to start.
"A major goal for the Mars Curiosity rover missions is to look for signs of life; it's always been looking for water, for traces of habitable life," said Cardenas (per Tech Explorist).
"This is the biggest one yet; it's a giant body of water, fed by sediments from the highlands, presumably carrying nutrients," added Cardenas.
Cardenas and his colleagues have discovered streams on Mars that they think may be older ancient ones. The research published in the Journal of Sedimentary Research suggests that the Curiosity rover may have come across sedimentary layers from historic river bars at several outcrops.
A separate study that employs acoustic imaging equipment to explore the stratigraphy beneath the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico examines a model of basin erosion comparable to that on Mars.
The researchers came to the conclusion that the numerous fluvial ridges on Mars are most likely historic river deposits that eroded from enormous basins like Aeolis Dorsa.
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