The fact that there must have been water in liquid form on Mars has been demonstrated several times with the help of the rover on the red planet. New research now suggests that Mars was “wet born” and once had a fairly dense atmosphere that allowed for warm to hot oceans on its surface.
A computer model shows that – just like on Earth – there was probably water vapor in the lower layers of the Martian atmosphere, while it was quite dry in the upper atmosphere of the red planet, reports a team led by Kaveh Pahlevan of the SETI Institute. .
“Molecular hydrogen (H2), on the other hand, did not condense and was transported to the upper atmosphere of Mars, where it was eventually lost to space,” the SETI scientists write in the journal Planetary Science Letters.
Dense atmosphere allowed for oceans
“We think we modeled an overlooked chapter in Mars’ earliest history in the period immediately after the planet’s formation,” the researchers report. Using computer models, they conclude that, shortly after its formation, hot Mars had a dense atmosphere that allowed warm to hot oceans on its surface for millions of years.
The atmosphere would have created a powerful greenhouse effect, allowing oceans on Mars for millions of years until molecular hydrogen (H2) was gradually lost to space. The red planet was “born wet” before our Earth formed, scientists say.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
