As NASA imagery shows, the Martian surface is a colorful mosaic of rusty soil, creamy deposits of frozen water and carbon dioxide. This is one of the few detailed images of Mars' north pole.
Despite the fact that the Red Planet at first glance seems dry and barren, like the Moon, the planet's poles are rich in frozen water and gases. Here's what NASA notes about this:
'The Martian ice cap is like a cake, each layer of which tells the story of the planet. In this case, history reveals one of the changes on Mars. This image shows the North Pole Layered Deposition (NPLD). It looks very much like a delicious piece of layered tiramisu. '
'NPLD is composed primarily of frozen particles of water and dust, layered on top of each other. The material on top of the layers is a mixture of seasonal ice and carbon dioxide. You can see the carbon dioxide in the image as a frost adhered to one of the layers. '
The photo was taken by the NASA MRO Orbiter. The spacecraft launched towards the Red Planet in 2005 provides scientists with some of the most detailed images of the surface of Mars. Images like this could help planetary scientists better understand how the Red Planet's climate developed.
'HiRISE Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's high resolution and color rendering capabilities provide details of layer changes. Scientists also use radar data, which shows us that they have continuity in their bowels. '
'During deposition, these complex layers can encapsulate tiny air pockets from the atmosphere, which, if sampled, can be examined to understand relationships with previous climatic conditions. After all, studying NPLD on Mars is not always easy, but where there are such 'pies' there is hope.'
Water is one of the main building blocks of life on Earth. Its discovery on Mars indicates that the planet was once adapted for the existence of life. However, in its current state, Mars is too inhospitable for life on its surface.
It is believed that the planet was once, many millions of years ago, hotter, wetter and much more like a young Earth. Scientists today believe that most of the present Martian atmosphere is made up of carbon dioxide.
“If carbonate minerals were formed on the surface of Mars as a result of chemical reactions between water and the atmosphere, the presence of these minerals would be evidence that water has been present for a long time – perhaps long enough for life to develop.”
