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Paleolakes on Mars.

R A Wharton1, J M Crosby, C P McKay

  • 1Desert Research Institute, Reno, Nevada 89506, USA.

Journal of Paleolimnology
|January 1, 1995
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Evidence suggests ancient Mars had flowing water, forming lakes. These Martian paleolakes likely became ice-covered, similar to Earth

Area of Science:

  • Planetary Science
  • Astrobiology
  • Geology

Background:

  • Observational evidence, including outflow channels and valley networks, indicates past liquid water on Mars.
  • Fluvial features suggest the existence of paleolakes where water pooled and deposited sediment.
  • Martian paleolake sediments and features are identified in Valles Marineris and basins like Amazonis, Chryse, and Elysium planitia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the implications of past liquid water on Mars for the search for extraterrestrial life.
  • To investigate the paleolimnology of Mars, focusing on the conditions and persistence of ancient lakes.
  • To understand the potential for discovering evidence of past or present life in Martian lake environments.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of observational data for fluvial features and sedimentary deposits.
Keywords:
NASA Center ARCNASA Discipline ExobiologyNon-NASA Center

Related Experiment Videos

  • Comparative planetology, drawing parallels with Earth's polar ice-covered lakes.
  • Geological interpretation of Martian surface morphology to identify paleolake locations.
  • Main Results:

    • Past flowing water on Mars created lakes, evidenced by geological formations.
    • These Martian lakes likely became ice-covered as the planet cooled.
    • Ice-covered lakes on Earth demonstrate the potential for liquid water to persist in sub-freezing conditions.

    Conclusions:

    • The existence of past lakes on Mars, potentially ice-covered, supports the search for life based on liquid water.
    • Discovering Martian paleolakes is of significant interest for exobiology and paleolimnology.
    • The study of Martian lakes could establish limnology as an interplanetary science.