Morning frost on Mars, a discovery that could well be useful to future astronauts

SPACE – Morning frosts observed on some of the largest mountains in the solar system. More specifically, this phenomenon has been observed during the aurora on the colossal Martian volcanoes, whose height is three times that of Mount Everest. This is what researchers discovered, indicates an article published in the journal Nature Geosciences on Monday June 10.

This phenomenon is surprising because Mars has a much less dense atmosphere than that of Earth, and has several thousand times less water than our blue planet. Frost is therefore unlikely. And yet, an exceptionally thin layer of frost, thinner than a hair, covers an immense surface area of ​​Martian volcanoes.

“This is the first time we have discovered water gel on the tops of volcanoes and the first time we have discovered water gel in the equatorial regions of Mars”declared to The Guardian Adomas Valantinas, planetary scientist at the University of Bern in Switzerland and Brown University in the United States.

Frosty volcanoes

This frost was discovered precisely in the Tharsis region. It brings together immense volcanoes several kilometers high such as Olympus, Arsia and Ascraeus Mons, or even Ceraunius Tholus. To make this discovery, the researchers used high-resolution color images from the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Exomars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO).

This discovery was confirmed using independent observations carried out, among others, by the ESA Mars Express probe. But it was not easy. On Mars, there are two main volatile compounds: water (H₂O) and carbon dioxide (CO₂). Both can easily change to gases and appear white or bright in visible light. It is therefore difficult to distinguish them.

The researchers therefore had to carry out real investigative work using numerous tools and a digital simulation of the microclimate of the volcanoes of Mars to arrive at the conclusion that yes, there is indeed frost on the red planet. Another point raised in this study, these numerical simulations demonstrate that the surface temperatures of the volcanoes mentioned above make it possible to imagine that there would be frozen water.

A watery (but still murky) past

This discovery fuels the hypothesis that the planet was once a much wetter, and perhaps even habitable, world dotted with giant lakes and winding rivers. Indeed, spacecraft orbiting Mars have already returned evidence of frozen and liquid water on the Red Planet, with significant amounts of ice observed at the North and South Poles.

“What we see could be a trace of a past Martian climate”added to The Guardian Valantinas on frost-tipped volcanoes. “This could be related to atmospheric climate processes that were occurring earlier in Martian history, perhaps millions of years ago. »

Currently, water exchanges between the atmosphere and the Martian surface are not fully understood. This discovery of frost is an important element since it could serve as a tracer for the water cycle on Mars. A new step to identify key resources that can aid potential human exploration.

Also see on HuffPost :