20% of the surface of Mars was covered by the ocean
After 6 years of scientific research, NASA experts have found new evidence of the existence of the ancient Martian ocean about 4.5 billion years ago. Its area was larger than previously thought. The ocean has been in the lowland plain in the northern hemisphere of Mars for millions of years.
Scientists have found that in the atmosphere of Mars, deuterium is 8 times more than in the atmosphere of the Earth. These measurements allow you to determine how much water is lost into space and how much it was originally.
Measurements indicate that ancient Mars had enough water to cover the planet to a depth of at least 137 meters. They believe that the Red Planet may still have significant underground water supplies. So far this is one of the theories.
Scientists generally agree that the lakes have existed for millions of years in different places, such as, for example, the Gale crater explored by the Curiosity rover. But there is no understanding of how the lakes replenished, remaining relatively stable for millions of years, it is difficult to explain without the ocean. From the open surface of the lakes, water quickly evaporates and is transferred to the poles.
So far, climate models cannot explain how Mars could be warm enough in the early period to keep water from freezing. Greenhouse gases could make the planet much warmer at some point, but the products of the interaction of these gases have not yet been discovered on the surface of Mars ... Climate models have great difficulty reconstructing early Mars at a temperature high enough to allow surface melting and the existence of liquid water.
There are also no clear signs of topographic and geological features associated with the existence of large bodies of water on Earth, such as sea cliffs and coastlines.
Visualization of the ancient ocean can be seen in the published video.
Scientists have found that in the atmosphere of Mars, deuterium is 8 times more than in the atmosphere of the Earth. These measurements allow you to determine how much water is lost into space and how much it was originally.
Measurements indicate that ancient Mars had enough water to cover the planet to a depth of at least 137 meters. They believe that the Red Planet may still have significant underground water supplies. So far this is one of the theories.
Scientists generally agree that the lakes have existed for millions of years in different places, such as, for example, the Gale crater explored by the Curiosity rover. But there is no understanding of how the lakes replenished, remaining relatively stable for millions of years, it is difficult to explain without the ocean. From the open surface of the lakes, water quickly evaporates and is transferred to the poles.
So far, climate models cannot explain how Mars could be warm enough in the early period to keep water from freezing. Greenhouse gases could make the planet much warmer at some point, but the products of the interaction of these gases have not yet been discovered on the surface of Mars ... Climate models have great difficulty reconstructing early Mars at a temperature high enough to allow surface melting and the existence of liquid water.
There are also no clear signs of topographic and geological features associated with the existence of large bodies of water on Earth, such as sea cliffs and coastlines.
Visualization of the ancient ocean can be seen in the published video.