Astronomers have found credible evidence that a giant reservoir with liquid water is located a mile below the ice in the southern pole on Mars.
It is the first time astronomers identify a sustainable water body on the red planet. Findings increase the chances of microbial life that was born on Mars in contrast to what was previously negligible.
"We discovered water on Mars," says Roberto Orosei of the Astrophysics Institute in Bologna. Any other explanation for radiant reflections on the radar is indefensible, he added. Details of the discovery can be found in the scientific journal Science.
The discovery of this water body in Mars was made possible after analyzing the data of three years. Measurements, collected from 2012 to 2015, show that radar waves penetrated translucent ice in the southern Martian pole, but reflected strongly against a body of water underneath it.
It is impossible to understand in the body of water is the lake, or the aquifer, where the water is collected from different points in the martial pores. If it is an open water body, it can resemble Lake Vostok, the largest underwater lake in the Antarctic.
Also, scientists do not know how deep the water is. Radar impulses are back from the surface of the water, but they do not reach the end. The best of the field say the water is at least one or two feet deep.
It is known that the water is extremely cold. Under the ice, in the south marian pole, the temperature reaches -68 ° C. Although the environment is extremely cold, the water stays liquid because it is rich in salts, especially mangoes, calcium and sodium.
Some scientists say the environment is not very handy to shelter life. Others believe that the depth of water is no problem. As long as there are energy sources to utilize and nutrient sources, then there may be life.
Water analysis is not a simple task. It will take a flying robot that is capable of digging 1.5 km of ice. This type of technology is not yet developed, so it will take some time before analyzing the body of water.
For now, scientists will look for more underwater lakes or aquifers. There is no reason to believe that water in Mars is only in one area.
Source: The Guardian
