Scientists discover underground water on Mars but there's a catch
What's the story
NASA's Insight lander has made a groundbreaking discovery of a vast underground water reservoir on Mars.
The data reveals that this subterranean body is large enough to cover the entire Martian surface with a depth of 1-2km.
However, accessing this water is challenging as it resides within small fissures and pores in rock, positioned in the middle of the Martian crust at depths between 11.5 and 20km below the surface.
Research method
Seismic activity leads to discovery
The discovery of the underground water reservoir was made by geophysicists who used seismic activity to explore Mars's interior.
This finding provides new insights into what happened to water on Mars after its oceans vanished over three billion years ago.
Vashan Wright, an assistant professor at UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography, emphasized the importance of understanding the Martian water cycle for comprehending the evolution of its climate, surface and interior.
Data interpretation
Seismic data analysis reveals water-saturated rock layer
The scientists utilized a mathematical model of rock physics to interpret seismic data from Insight.
They deduced that the data is best explained by a deep layer of fractured igneous rock saturated with liquid water.
Michael Manga, a UC Berkeley professor of earth and planetary science, stated that confirming the existence of this large liquid water reservoir provides insights into what Mars's climate was or could be like.
Life prospects
Underground water reservoir: A potential habitat for life?
The researchers propose that this discovery could identify another potential location to search for life on Mars, if the reservoir can be accessed.
Manga suggested that water is necessary for life as we know it and he doesn't see why the underground reservoir is not a habitable environment.
The Insight lander was launched by NASA to Mars in 2018 to study its crust, mantle, core and atmosphere.
Mission impact
Insight lander's mission and findings
The Insight lander recorded invaluable information about Mars's interior before its mission ended in 2022.
The study suggests that much of the water that had been on the Martian surface did not escape into space, but rather filtered down into the crust.
"Early Mars had liquid water on its surface in rivers, lakes and possibly oceans. The crust on Mars could also have been full of water from very early in its history, too," Manga explained.
Accessibility issues
Accessing underground water: A challenge for future Mars colonies
Despite the discovery, the depth of the apparent underground liquid water would make it difficult to access for future Mars colonies.
"Drilling to these depths is very challenging. Looking for places where geological activity expels this water, possibly the tectonically active Cerberus Fossae (a region in the northern hemisphere of Mars), is an alternative to looking for deep liquids," Manga said.