“Chinese Researchers Find Water on Mars: Implications for Life and Climate”

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BEIJING—Chinese researchers claim for the first time they have found water on the planet Mars as data collected by the Zhurong rover.

The findings, published in the international academic journal Advances in Science and Research, show that several objects, such as surface crust, fissures, granulations and watermarks, were present in the Martian dunes around the Zhurong landing site.

The data led to an analysis that the surface of the dunes is rich in water containing minerals, such as sulfate hydrate, protein, and iron hydroxide.

“More importantly, we believe that the presence of water in the dunes is not formed from groundwater or carbon dioxide, but from frost or snowfall,” Qin Xiaoguang said, as quoted by Chinese media. Qin is the author of a research report in the scientific journal.

The presence of water on Mars is a topic of great interest to some circles because it could have important implications for adventurous migrations and understanding the evolution of the planet’s climate.

The existence of water in liquid form indicates Mars is a habitable environment that has the potential for life, said Science and Technology Daily.

Several previous studies have shown that there is an abundance of water in liquid form.

However, due to the loss of the atmosphere, the Martian climate underwent major changes, such as very low air pressure, which made it difficult for water vapor to melt.

Some of the water droplets found by the United States Mars Phoenix team indicate the presence of salty water in the high altitude areas of Mars in summer.

In addition, the simulation results show that certain climate situations that are suitable for water in some areas on Mars are still temporary.

“However, direct observational evidence for the presence of liquid water on the warmest low surface on Mars is still scanty,” said Qin, who is also a researcher at the Chinese Institute of Geology and Geophysics.

In 2021, China’s first Mars exploration mission Tianwen-1 successfully landed Zhurong on the southern edge of Utopia Planitia, the lowest region of planet Mars.

Zhurong has been active for 347sol (356.5 earth days) since being placed on the surface of Mars. The rover has been inactive since May 20, 2022 ahead of sandstorms and a Martian winter.

source: Between