In a recent survey utilizing ground-penetrating radar and satellite imagery, scientists have detected signs of volcanic activity on Mars, suggesting that the planet may have experienced such activity more recently than previously believed. The findings, combined with other evidence, indicate that Mars, beneath its barren surface, may be more geologically active than outward appearances suggest. The study focused on the Elysium Planitia, a plain on Mars, revealing volcanic activity that may have occurred in the last 120 million years.
“Elysium Planitia is the youngest volcanic terrain on the planet, and studying it helps us to better understand Mars’ past as well as recent hydrological and volcanic history,” noted the authors in their paper. Some of the identified volcanic activity dates to as recent as 1 million years ago, a geologically recent timeframe. While scientists have not directly observed ongoing volcanic activity, recent studies suggest the possibility of such activity on Mars.
The study, co-led by Joana Voigt and planetary scientist Christopher Hamilton of the University of Arizona, emphasizes that Elysium Planitia may still be volcanically active today. The lava flows on the Martian surface appear relatively young, posing a puzzle for scientists. Voigt highlighted the significance of Elysium Planitia in understanding the link between surface observations and the interior dynamics revealed through volcanic eruptions.
NASA’s InSight lander recorded numerous quakes on Mars between 2018 and 2022, challenging the notion of Mars as a geologically dormant planet. The comprehensive account of recent volcanism provided by this study represents the best estimate of Mars’ young volcanic activity over the past 120 million years, spanning the era when dinosaurs roamed Earth. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of Mars’ geological history and its potential for ongoing volcanic processes beneath the surface.
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