New research led by a UK scientist indicates that Mars had significantly warmer weather in its recent past than previously thought. The research, funded by the UK’s Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, is good news in our quest for life on Mars, as the shorter the time period since the last warm weather on the planet, the better the chance that any organisms that may have lived in warmer times are still alive under the planet’s surface.

Dr Matthew Balme, from The Open University, made the new discovery by studying detailed images of equatorial landforms that formed by melting of ice-rich soils. His work indicates that the Martian surface experienced "freeze thaw" cycles as recently as 2 million years ago, and that Mars has not been locked in permafrost conditions for billions of years as had been previously thought.

The high resolution images, which show a variety of interesting landforms, were taken with NASA’s HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging science Experiment) which is onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) mission.

Dr Matthew Balme said, "The features of this terrain were previously interpreted to be the result of volcanic processes. The amazingly detailed images from HiRISE show that the features are instead caused by the expansion and contraction of ice, and by thawing of ice-rich ground. This all suggests a very different climate to what we see today."

All of the landforms observed are in an outflow channel, thought to have been active as recently as 2 -8 million years ago. Since the landforms exist within, and cut across, the pre-existing features of the channel, this suggests that they too were created within this timeframe.

The pictures show polygonally patterned surfaces, branched channels, blocky debris and mound/cone structures. All of these features are similar to landforms on Earth typical of areas where permafrost terrain is melting.

Dr Balme said, "These observations demonstrate not only that there was ice near the Martian equator in the last few million years, but also that the ice melted to form liquid water and then refroze. And this probably happened for many cycles. Given that liquid water seems to be essential for life, these kinds of environments could be a great place to look for evidence of past life on Mars."

Professor Keith Mason, CEO of the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), said, "This new research has revealed more about Mars and provided fascinating evidence of geological process similar to Earth. The history of our neighbouring planet, and the question of whether it has ever sustained life, has long fascinated man. Understanding current processes on the surface of Mars and the past and present role of climate improves our knowledge of the planet’s history and thus the chances of one day detecting evidence for past or present life. UK scientists are involved in a number of different Mars studies, which are helping to paint a full picture of this mysterious planet."

Notes for editors

Images

Images are available from the STFC Press Office

Contacts

Julia Short

Press Officer

STFC

Tel: +44 (0)1793 442 012

Mobile: +44 (0)7770 276 721

Email: Julia.short@stfc.ac.uk

Dr Matthew Balme

Open University

Tel: +44 (0)1908 659 776

UK mobile: 07941 032 085

US Mobile: (1) 520 891 5340

Email: m.r.balme@open.ac.uk

Dr Matthew Balme, from the Earth and Environmental Sciences department at The Open University, holds a prestigious STFC Aurora Fellowship to study the extent to which recent geological activity on Mars has been influenced by changes in its climate.

The Aurora Fellowship

The scheme is an STFC fellowship dedicated to enhancing the UK’s long term capabilities and cross disciplinary approach to planetology and astrobiology, in order to better position the UK to exploit both the European Space Agency’s Aurora Programme and continuing Science programme. The primary objective of Aurora is a European long-term plan for robotic and human exploration of the Solar System, with Mars, the Moon and the asteroids as the most likely targets. Another objective is to search for life beyond Earth.

Science and Technology Facilities Council

The Science and Technology Facilities Council ensures the UK retains its leading place on the world stage by delivering world-class science; accessing and hosting international facilities; developing innovative technologies; and increasing the socio-economic impact of its research through effective knowledge exchange.

The Council has a broad science portfolio including Astronomy, Particle Physics, Particle Astrophysics, Nuclear Physics, Space Science, Synchrotron Radiation, Neutron Sources and High Power Lasers. In addition the Council manages and operates three internationally renowned laboratories: