The discovery of a mysterious glacier on the surface of Mars

A strange formation of glaciers has been discovered on Mars, which poses many mysteries to researchers. This is located in the lowlands Arcadia Planetia In the northern hemisphere of the planet it is believed to contain water ice less than a meter below the surface. After a detailed analysis of the recordings from 2001, researchers now suspect that a glacier may have shaped the landscape.

Mysterious formation forms the terrain

They came to their conclusion because the composition clearly visible on the ground is amazing Reminiscent of ice flows in Antarctica. However, the fact that once a glacier was flowing here, which is now buried in a thin layer of rubble and debris, requires some explanation. Because the terrain in the area is actually too flat for such an operation.

In order to be able to decipher this new type of glacier, the Earth once again functions as an object of study. In Antarctica, for example, there are ice flows embedded in ice sheets and glaciers and have a faster flow rate. According to Shannon Hibbard, a PhD student at the University of Western Ontario in Canada, these rocks slide over the surface of the ice on a thin layer of water, even if they are relatively flat.

Controversial theory

There is a debate over whether this phenomenon, which has not been fully researched and understood on Earth, could be transferred to Mars. Because while glacial ice was present, water was also present and flowing underneath it remains unclear. The researcher is convinced that a future Mars mission to this region will be an option to learn more about the formation.

Arcadia Planitia has long been considered a potential future Mars landing area due to the structure of its flat surface. In addition to favorable lowland landing conditions, suspected ice directly beneath the surface of Mars could serve as an easily accessible natural water source for astronauts.

The research has been published in the journal Icarus.