China's Mars rover data suggests existence of ancient oceans on Mars

(ECNS) -- China’s Mars rover Zhurong has discovered geological evidence suggesting that ancient oceans once existed in Mars’ mid-to-low latitudes, researchers from China’s Aerospace Information Research Institute under Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) announced Friday.

Zhurong detected multiple layers of inclined sedimentary structures 10 to 35 meters beneath its landing site in Mars’ northern hemisphere. These geological features closely resemble coastal sediments on Earth, providing key scientific support for the theory of the existence of ancient oceans on Mars.

Fang Guangyou, a co-corresponding author of the study, stated that the findings not only provide key evidence that Mars experienced a prolonged warm and humid climate, with conditions suitable for liquid water lasting far longer than previously believed. This challenges earlier assumptions that water only existed during brief melting periods.

Most significantly, the discovery also extends evidence of liquid water beyond Mars’ remote polar regions to its more habitable mid-to-low latitudes.

If an ocean once existed in this region, climate changes could have trapped large amounts of water in the form of subsurface ice, which holds great potential for future Mars base water resources, significantly reducing the cost of construction and maintenance.

Fang emphasized that the ancient oceanic sediments preserve records of Mars’ climatic history. Studying these sediments could help people understand how the planet transitioned from a warm, wet world to a cold, arid one. This knowledge could guide efforts to terraform Mars into a long-term sustainable human habitation, according to Fang.

Fang mentioned that Zhurong landed in the southern part of Utopia Planitia in mid-May 2021. It is equipped with a subsurface penetrating radar to explore underground structures and potential water ice deposits.

The research team includes scientists from CAS, Guangzhou University, Tongji University, as well as Penn State University and the University of California, Berkeley. The study was supported by the China National Space Administration and the team behind China's first Mars exploration mission, Tianwen-1.