Scientists have finally solved a 50-year-old mystery surrounding Mars’ drastically different northern and southern hemispheres. The groundbreaking study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, reveals that internal heat transfer within Mars is the likely cause of the dichotomy.
Researchers used data from NASA’s InSight lander to analyze marsquake data, providing insights into Mars’ internal dynamics. They discovered that Martian tectonic plates once moved and interacted with molten rock, creating a “stagnant lid” on the planet’s interior. This process, known as mantle convection, shaped the crust over billions of years.
The findings are supported by geochemical analysis of Martian meteorites and suggest that the southern highlands, which are ancient, cratered, and magnetised, were formed when Mars had a global magnetic field. In contrast, the northern lowlands are younger, less cratered, and lack magnetisation.
While the study’s results are promising, more data on future marsquakes and comparative studies are needed to fully confirm the theory. The discovery sheds new light on Mars’ history, including its geomagnetic field, which could have supported life.
Source: https://www.ndtv.com/science/scientists-may-have-finally-solved-50-year-old-mystery-about-martian-surface-7537704