Scientists detected ‘morning frost’ in the volcanic region of Mars; to understand

An unthinkable scene has been discovered by planetary scientists in the equatorial region of Mars: traces of frozen water atop the Tharsis volcanoes, the largest volcanic mountains in our Solar System. Unlike on Earth, where icy peaks are the norm, high temperatures should make this sight unlikely.the authors state in a publication.

For Adomas Valentinas, first author of the study recently published in Nature Geoscienes,We thought it was impossible for frost to form around Mars’ equator“Because the mixture of sunlight and thin atmosphere keeps temperatures relatively high both on the surface and on the mountain tops.”

According to the post’s title, it’s a type of “temporary accumulation of morning frost” that forms just a few hours after sunrise and evaporates before sunset. And although it is only one hundredth of a millimeter thin, its volume can reach 150 thousand tons of water circulating between the surface and the atmosphere, or 60 Olympic-sized swimming pools evaporating every day.

How did scientists detect water ice in volcanoes on Mars?

The surprising concentration of frozen water at the top of volcanoes on Mars was detected using high-resolution color images sent to Earth by the Stereoscopic Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) instrument mounted on the Gas Tracking Orbiter (TGO) launched by the European Space Agency. Agency (ESA), which has been in orbit around the Red Planet since October 2016.

The TGO observations were also compared with other observations from ESA’s “experienced” Mars Express probe (which has been in Mars orbit since 2003) via its High Resolution Stereo Camera.

The study involved analyzing more than 30,000 images to find the ice layer alone.and then verify its existence. To do this, Valatinas had to create a “filter” of images to determine the location of the images, the time of day they were taken, as well as the season. But the effort was worth it, because specific traces of frozen water and its origin on the planet’s surface were isolated.

How important is the discovery of “frost” in Mars’ volcanoes?

Frozen water briefly accumulates in Mars’ volcanic calderasLarge bowl-shaped depressions that can reach 10 thousand kilometers wide and 8 kilometers deep, as in the case of Valles Marineris.

According to the researchers, modeling how this water is formed could provide clues as to where and how it was formed. Understanding the current water cycle on Mars is essential not only for future exploration, but also for the search for signs of life on the planet.

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