December 10, 2007

Clues to water on Mars lie here on Earth

Our everlasting Mars Rovers are still up there sniffing for evidence of Martian water. To better understand what evidence of Martian water looks like, researchers at the Byrd Polar Research Center at Ohio University are studing the McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica.

Antartic and Martian dry valleys both experience sub-zero temperatures and both have iron-rich soil. Year round, salt water flows in the ground below the Antartic dry valleys. The topographical similarity between these two regions may be an indication of water under Martian soil; and if so, the prospect of present or past water on Mars looks pretty likely. link

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