Recent fractures on the surface of Mars and gases detected by an orbiter probe provide some of the strongest evidence yet that the planet is volcanically active Evidence of volcanic activity was detected near Alba Mons on Mars Mars may be volcanically active, say scientists who have linked evidence of gases often produced by magma with photographs of fresh fissures found on the surface of the Red Planet. The findings could be interpreted as good news in the hunt for life as a continuous heat source would be needed to keep microorganisms safe from frigid temperatures on the surface. Scientists have seen evidence of volcanoes on Mars in the last few million years and seismic activity has hinted that some may still be active, but no evidence of lava flows or current eruptions had previously been found.
In 2019, the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter detected evidence of hydrogen chloride in Mars’s atmosphere. That gas is commonly associated with magmatic vents on Earth and researchers wondered if the same was true on Mars. To investigate further, Daniel Mège at the Polish Academy of Sciences and his colleagues looked at the little data available – just 15 recorded instances of the gas – alongside newly taken photographs of the surface.
They were able to link recent, narrow fissures in the Alba Mons region of Mars to the hydrogen chloride emissions, providing strong evidence of underground lava flow. To assess whether the hydrogen chloride could have come from the fissures, the team modelled the wind direction at the time the measurements were taken. So the atmosphere is turbulent.
It’s an enormous mess,” says Mège. Nicolas Thomas at the University of Bern, Switzerland, another team member, stresses that until the area is investigated up-close, there will always be doubt about the source of the gas, but argues that this finding makes the case for further surface exploration of Mars. Until you put something down there and you actually sniff the stuff coming out of the ground, you haven’t got unambiguous proof.” Thomas thinks the finding makes the prospects for life on Mars more likely.
It’s a very harsh environment,” he says.
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