2023-05-20 00:46:22
Chinese researchers discovered direct evidence proving the existence of an ancient ocean in the northern plain of Marteaccording to sources from the Wuhan University of Geosciences.
Previous studies had found evidence of the presence of a large amount of fluid in the Marte primitive, but claims on the matter had remained controversial due to a lack of in situ analysis.
A research team led by Xiao Long, a professor at the university, analyzed the scientific data from the multispectral camera of the rover Marte Zhurong and found petrological evidence for marine sedimentary rocks on the planet’s surface for the first time, according to a research paper published in the National Science Review.
“When we looked at the images from the camera aboard the rover, we discovered that the bedrock structures of the exposed rocks are significantly different from the volcanic rocks common on the surface of Marteas well as bed structures formed by wind sands,” Xiao said.
The scientist added that the bidirectional flow characteristics indicated by knowledge of the beds were consistent with low-energy tidal flows in Earth’s coastal-marine ocean environment.
The results of the study have provided direct support for theories about the existence of an ancient Martian ocean.
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