Science
Gravity data reveals massive heat divide deep inside Mars
Researchers found the planet's southern interior is significantly warmer than the north, potentially resolving several Martian mysteries.
The short version
- A study using tidal tomography has revealed that the interior beneath Mars's southern hemisphere is 200 to 400 degrees Celsius hotter than the northern interior, and may be partially molten.
- The discovery could explain long-standing Martian mysteries, including unusual southern magnetic signatures and the rapid loss of seismic wave energy in the south detected by NASA's InSight mission.
- While the temperature imbalance points to a deep geologic divide, the exact cause of this thermal anomaly remains unknown.
Key facts
- The study, published August 27 in Nature, was led by Caltech alumnus and University of Arizona postdoctoral associate Alexander Berne.[ScienceDaily]
- Researchers utilized tidal tomography to analyze gravity observations collected over decades by three spacecraft: Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Odyssey, and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.[ScienceDaily]
- The findings show the southern interior of Mars is 200 to 400 degrees Celsius warmer than the northern interior.[ScienceDaily]
- Understanding this temperature divide could provide insight into the hydrology of Mars, including the formation of ancient basins that may have held liquid water.[ScienceDaily]
What remains uncertain
- The precise cause of the thermal anomaly is unknown, though scientists are considering three primary hypotheses: a massive northern impact that released heat, spontaneous convection in the southern mantle, or thick southern geological structures trapping heat.[ScienceDaily]
Sources
- Scientists discover a massive heat anomaly deep inside MarsScienceDaily - Science