Open AccessResearch Spotlight: Evidence for water ice near the Martian equator
Author(s) -
Schultz Colin
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/2011eo070014
Subject(s) - impact crater , martian , geology , mars exploration program , equator , astrobiology , water ice , latitude , geophysics , geodesy , physics
When one looks for water on Mars, the most obvious targets are the ice‐capped polar regions. However, Shean found what appears to be buried water ice or an ice‐debris mix within 38 craters in the Sinus Sabaeus region near the Martian equator. While previous research has suggested that water was historically present near the equator, Mars's current climate is supposed to be inhospitable to equatorial water ice. Using satellite imagery, the author found material at the bottom of equatorial craters that is visually similar to material thought to be buried ice found elsewhere on Mars, especially in midlatitude craters (30°–60°N/S). He also found 30 additional craters where this material has been partially or completely removed, leaving traces that suggest it is composed of buried ice. ( Geophysical Research Letters , doi:10.1029/2010GL045181, 2010)