There might be a large amount of liquid water below the surface of Mars. Scientists believe this water could fill an ocean. They came to this conclusion after analyzing seismic data from NASA’s InSight lander. The water is thought to be trapped in broken volcanic rocks about 7.2 to 12.4 miles (11.5 to 20 kilometers) beneath the surface.
This study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It suggests that the depth where these volcanic rocks are found is warm enough to keep water in liquid form. If the water were closer to the surface, it would freeze into ice.
The report notes that on Earth, microorganisms live in similar conditions deep within rocks where there is enough water.
The InSight lander, which landed on Mars in 2018, gathered data about the planet’s different layers, including its liquid metal core, mantle, and crust. The mission was scheduled to end in 2022.
InSight’s data shows that the liquid water is stored in volcanic rocks beneath the planet’s outer layer, which are formed from solidified lava.
Scientists believe that if this water were extracted, it could create an ocean 1 to 2 kilometers deep across the surface of Mars. They also think that Mars may have had water on its surface in the past when the planet was warmer. This research could help in understanding the possibility of life on Mars.
