New layers of water ice have been found beneath Mars’ North Pole
One of the most profound similarities between Earth and Mars, one which makes it a popular target for research and exploration, is the presence of water ice on its surface (mainly in the form of its polar ice caps). But perhaps even more interesting is the presence of glaciers beneath the surface, which is something scientists have speculated about long before their presence was confirmed.
These caches of subsurface water could tell us a great deal about Martian history, and could even be an invaluable resource if humans ever choose to make Mars their home someday. According to a recent study by a pair of scientists from the Universities of Texas at Austin and Arizona, there are also layers of ice beneath the northern polar ice cap that could be the largest reservoir of water on the planet.
The findings were the subject of a study that was recently published in Geophysical Research Letters. The study was led by Stefano Nerozzi, a graduate student from the University of Texas at Austin’s Institute of Geophysics (UTIG) and was assisted by Professor Jack Holt of the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory (LPL). [CR. universetoday.com]