US EditionGlaciers On Mars Are Mostly Water Ice, Study Finds
MARS, AUG 01 – New radar analysis reveals Mars glaciers contain over 80% pure water ice beneath a thin dust layer, indicating extensive, accessible ice reserves for future missions, scientists said.
- Scientists published a study on July 12 in the journal Icarus revealing that glaciers across Mars are more than 80% water ice beneath a thin dust cover.
- Researchers used NASA's SHARAD radar to analyze five mid-latitude sites and found similar ice purity, suggesting consistent formation and preservation mechanisms planet-wide.
- Previous assumptions that Mars' glaciers contained substantial rock debris were revised as nearly pure ice was detected, implying sustained glaciation and snow accumulation over millions of years.
- Oded Aharonson explained that the glaciers examined consist mostly of ice—approximately 80% or higher—beneath layers of rock or dust, emphasizing their potential as a valuable resource.
- These findings imply vast accessible water reservoirs exist on Mars, offering critical resources for future missions and human colonization plans dependent on in-situ water access.
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Mars Glaciers Have More Water Content than Previously Thought
On the slopes of Martian mountains and craters clings what appears to be flowing honey, coated in dust and frozen in time. In reality, these features are incredibly slow-moving glaciers, and their contents were once thought to be mostly rock enveloped in some ice.
·United States
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Good news for Mars settlers? Red Planet glaciers are mostly pure water ice, study suggests
Martian glaciers are mostly pure ice across the Red Planet, suggesting they might potentially be useful resources for any explorers that might land there one day, a new study finds.
·United States
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Leaning Left1Leaning Right1Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution71% Center
Bias Distribution
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71% Center
14%
C 71%
14%
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