Data shows that there is a surface Lake on Mars in 2018. The data comes from the ESA spacecraft called Mars Express. Spacecraft Shot Signal radar on the surface of the red planet, and the data collected shows that the South Pole of the planet seems to have a lake under the liquid surface. Since 2018, a follow-up study has revealed what is believed to be an additional surface lake on Mars.
A new paper was recently published by a pair of scientists from the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This paper explains finding dozens of similar radar reflections around the south pole. The researchers analyzed a series of wider data collected by Mars Express. However, one discovery of data was revealed confused. Scientists say that many radar reflections that show water below the surface are in areas that must be too cold for water remain in a liquid state.
JPL scientists Jeffrey Plaua said whether the signal is liquid water or not is a mystery, but scientists know that the signal seems far more broad than what the original study found. Plaut says both liquid water is common under the south pole of Mars, or the signal shows something else. Initially, the radar signal was interpreted as subsurface water found in the Mars region known as the South Pole coated deposit.
The area got his name from the layer of ice water alternately, dry ice, and dust that had settled there for thousands of years. This special area is very interesting for scientists because they believe the layers note about how the slope on the Mars axis has changed over time. Beam researchers wave radio on the surface of the planet, which allows them to peek under the ice sheet and map it in detail.
Radio waves lose energy when they travel through the ingredients below the surface and reflect back to the spacecraft as a weakening signal. However, in some cases, the signal returning from the suspected region has lower water water brighter than on the surface. The signals are interpreted to imply the existence of liquid water because water is known to reflect the radio waves strongly. Plaua said the mapping made scientists a few steps closer to understanding the extent and causes of mysterious radar reflection.
