News UK :
An orbiting NASA satellite has spotted an ancient, dried-up river on Mars – with the sort of branching tributaries we see in rivers on Earth.
Millions of years ago, liquid water carved the surface of Mars, NASA scientists believe – and ancient rivers such as this one could offer clues to the planet’s early climate. Mike Mellon of the University of Colorado says, ‘Early in Martian history, liquid water energetically carved the surface, forming channel systems that look remarkably similar to river valleys and drainage networks on Earth.
‘Exactly how these channels formed-by rainfall, snowmelt, or seepage from underground springs-is often debated. ‘The answer has important ramifications about the early Martian climate. Clues about the source of the water may indicate the shape, layout, and scale of the various tributaries in a channel system.’
‘Our image shows an example of just such a water-carved channel. The channel pattern, called “dendritic” because of its tree-like branching, begins at the top of the image and runs down over the rim of an ancient impact basin across the basin floor.’
An orbiting NASA satellite has spotted an ancient, dried-up river on Mars – with the sort of branching tributaries we see in rivers on Earth.
Millions of years ago, liquid water carved the surface of Mars, NASA scientists believe – and ancient rivers such as this one could offer clues to the planet’s early climate. Mike Mellon of the University of Colorado says, ‘Early in Martian history, liquid water energetically carved the surface, forming channel systems that look remarkably similar to river valleys and drainage networks on Earth.
‘Exactly how these channels formed-by rainfall, snowmelt, or seepage from underground springs-is often debated. ‘The answer has important ramifications about the early Martian climate. Clues about the source of the water may indicate the shape, layout, and scale of the various tributaries in a channel system.’
‘Our image shows an example of just such a water-carved channel. The channel pattern, called “dendritic” because of its tree-like branching, begins at the top of the image and runs down over the rim of an ancient impact basin across the basin floor.’
