Water on Mars
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Water on Mars is almost entirely ice with small quantities of vapour in the atmosphere[1] and occasionally low-volume liquid brines in shallow soil.[2]
River valleys and outflow channels
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Area around Northern Kasei Valles, showing relationships among Kasei Valles, Bahram Vallis, Vedra Vallis, Maumee Vallis, and Maja Valles. Location is Lunae Palus quadrangle -
Branched channels in Thaumasia quadrangle -
The branched channels seen by Viking from orbit strongly suggested that it rained on Mars in the past. Location is Margaritifer Sinus quadrangle. -
Channels near the rim of Ius Chasma. Their pattern and high density suggest precipitation as the source of the water. Location is Coprates quadrangle. -
Ravi Vallis was probably formed when catastrophic floods came out of the ground. Location is Margaritifer Sinus quadrangle. -
Tear-drop shaped islands caused by flood waters from Maja Vallis, as seen by Viking Orbiter. Location is Oxia Palus quadrangle -
Flat terrain near the north pole of Mars showing polygonal patterns. -
Patterned ground on Mars at 45° North -
These rings on Mars may have been caused by crust moving over steam produced by lava interacting with water ice.
Gullies
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Crater wall inside Mariner Crater showing a large group of gullies -
Gullies on one wall of Kaiser Crater. Gullies usually are found in only one wall of a crater. Location is Noachis quadrangle. -
Gullies near Newton Crater. Location is Phaethontis quadrangle -
Gullies near Newton Crater -
Gullies near Gorgonum Chaos -
Gullies near Noachis Terra -
Seasonal Flows in Newton Crater
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Glaciers
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The arrow in the left picture points to a possible valley carved by a glacier. The image on the right shows the valley greatly enlarged in a Mars Global Surveyor image. -
Glacier moving down valley, then spreading out on plain. Location is Ismenius Lacus quadrangle -
This is the terminal moraine of a glacier. For scale, the box shows the approximate size of a football field. Location is Hellas quadrangle -
Radar studies indicate that this glacier contains mostly pure water ice. It is moving from the right. Location is Ismenius Lacus quadrangle. -
Tongue-Shaped Glacier. Location is Hellas quadrangle.
Ground ice
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The white area is water ice that has been exposed by an impact. Location is Cebrenia quadrangle.
Ancient lake
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Ancient Lake fills Gale Crater on Mars (simulated view). -
![Ancient Lake on Aeolis Palus in Gale Crater – possible size (December 9, 2013).[3][4]](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/PIA17596-MarsCuriosityRover-AncientLake-20131209.jpg/120px-PIA17596-MarsCuriosityRover-AncientLake-20131209.jpg)
![Ancient Lake on Aeolis Palus in Gale Crater – possible size (December 9, 2013).[3][4]](/wiki/File:PIA17596-MarsCuriosityRover-AncientLake-20131209.jpg)
References
[edit]- ↑ Jakosky, B.M. (1992) "The Seasonal Behavior of Water on Mars" in Kieffer, H.H. , ed. Mars, Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Press, pp. 969–1,016
- ↑ Ojha, L. (2015). "Spectral evidence for hydrated salts in recurring slope lineae on Mars". Nature Geoscience. DOI:10.1038/ngeo2546.
- ↑ Chang, Kenneth (December 9, 2013). "On Mars, an Ancient Lake and Perhaps Life". New York Times.
- ↑ Various (December 9, 2013). "Science – Special Collection – Curiosity Rover on Mars". Science.