New analysis from the Hubble Space Telescope and NASA‘s Mars Ambiance and Risky Evolution (MAVEN) mission reveals that Mars sheds water extra shortly when it’s closest to the Solar. These seasonal modifications are tied to the planet’s orbit, the place the elevated photo voltaic heating throughout perihelion accelerates the escape of hydrogen atoms from Mars’ ambiance. Over three billion years in the past, Mars was heat and wealthy in water, however right this moment, it has misplaced most of its water, remodeling right into a dry, desolate world.

Seasonal Results on Water Loss

According to John Clarke from Boston College, Mars loses water in two essential methods: freezing into the bottom or breaking into atoms and escaping into area. The planet nonetheless retains some water in its underground reservoirs and ice caps, however a lot of it has been misplaced over time. Throughout the Martian summer season, water vapor rises into the higher ambiance, the place photo voltaic radiation splits water molecules. The hydrogen atoms then escape into area, carried by the photo voltaic wind.

Hubble and MAVEN’s New Observations

The collaboration between Hubble and MAVEN has proven that the hydrogen escape price is highest throughout perihelion when Mars is closest to the Solar. Throughout this time, mud storms warmth the ambiance, accelerating water loss. MAVEN’s knowledge reveals that hydrogen escape charges are 10 to 100 occasions greater at perihelion than on the planet’s farthest level from the Solar, referred to as aphelion. The devices have detected that Mars has misplaced sufficient water over its historical past to type a world ocean as much as tons of of kilometers deep.

This new understanding of Mars’ water loss gives essential perception into the planet’s evolution and its potential for previous life.