Scientists have long been puzzled by the presence of ancient lakes, valleys, and even snow on Mars. Despite its harsh environment today, researchers believe that the Red Planet once had a warm, wet climate. A new study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets has shed light on this mystery, suggesting that precipitation played a significant role in forming these geological features.
Using computer simulations, the team found two possible explanations for how Mars’ valleys might have formed through precipitation: one where the planet was warm and wet, and another where ice melted temporarily at the edge of a large ice cap. The study’s results show that the first scenario produced much wider spread valley networks forming everywhere from low-lying regions to over 11,000 feet above the planet’s average surface.
“This suggests that precipitation played a significant role in forming these valleys,” said Amanda Steckel, a postdoctoral researcher at the California Institute of Technology. “Water from these ice caps starts to form valleys only around a narrow band of elevations, whereas if you have distributed precipitation, you can have valley heads forming everywhere.”
The study’s findings indicate that ancient Mars likely had a climate warm enough to support rain and even snow. While more evidence is needed to confirm this theory, the research provides valuable clues not just about Mars but also about the early history of Earth.
“Mars almost got frozen in time and probably still looks a lot like Earth did 3.5 billion years ago,” said Brian Hynek, senior author of the study.
Source: https://www.space.com/the-universe/mars/mars-is-covered-in-evidence-of-ancient-lakes-rain-and-snow-but-scientists-arent-sure-how-thats-possible