Researchers at NASA say they’ve come upon evidence that Mars was once home to a very large ocean.
A new study led by researchers at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, has found evidence that Mars was once likely home to a very large ocean.
According to their findings, the enormous body of water occupied roughly one-fifth of the Red Planet, covering about half of its northern hemisphere.
Further, the vast sea is believed to have stuck around for millions of years.
It has been estimated to hold more water than our Arctic Ocean, and occupied around 19% of the planet’s surface. The Atlantic Ocean only takes up 17% of the Earth’s surface.
Of course, the big question is if the ocean’s presence means the planet was once capable of supporting life.
To that, the answer is a strong probably, but it doesn’t mean that any actually developed there.
The information that led researchers to declare the existence of a significant and enduring body of water came through an analysis of the Martian atmosphere and comparison to a roughly 4.5 million year old Martian meteorite.
Two slightly different forms of water exist in the atmosphere above Mars, one heavier due to a neutron in one of its hydrogen atoms which is concentrated when the normal water was lost into space. It was estimated that Mars lost roughly 6.5 times the amount of liquid that is currently believed trapped in the planet’s ice caps.
