NASA’s Mars Probe Perseverance Reveals Ancient Lake Sedimentary Layer Radar Images

Probe transmits radar images
Two distinct sedimentary layers were identified
Evidence of large-scale change
An image depicting the appearance of the Mars rover ‘Perseverance’. Photo source: Wikimedia NASA’s Mars exploration probe ‘Perseverance’ has revealed the results of its radar exploration of the underground sedimentary layer of a lake that is believed to have existed in ancient times. Analysis results were also presented suggesting that erosion occurred before lake sediments were accumulated. It is expected that this will serve as a basis for understanding the possibility that life existed as the environment on Mars changed.

A joint research team from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of Oslo, Norway, published the results of an analysis of the results of Perseverance’s exploration of the underground sedimentary layer of an ancient lake on Mars in the international academic journal ‘Science Advances’ on the 27th (local time). did.

Perseverance, which left Earth in July 2020, landed on the surface of Mars in February 2021 the following year. She is exploring the Martian environment, including geology and atmosphere, near Mars’ Jezero Crater, which is known to be an area with a high possibility of life.

It is believed that the Jezero Crater, where Perseverance is conducting exploration activities, originally had a lake filled with water. Currently, it is believed that as the water recedes, sediments accumulate, forming an area with geological characteristics similar to a delta on Earth.

While exploring this deltaic terrain from May to December 2022, Perseverance obtained radar images of the underground sedimentary layer that was the subject of this study and sent them to Earth. Images and exploration data were obtained by using radar waves to probe the subsurface space. This is a method of analyzing geological characteristics through waves reflected at a depth of 20m below the surface by launching radar at 10cm intervals. As a result of Perseverance’s analysis of the images obtained in this way, many rock layers that looked like road cuts were discovered.

Regarding this, the research team said, “Two distinct sedimentary layers were identified, suggesting that there was erosion activity before the sediments of the ancient lake were accumulated. It is inferred that sedimentation and erosion occurred over thousands of years, creating the environment as it exists today.” He said.

This is direct evidence that large-scale changes have occurred in the Martian environment. The research team expressed expectations that “by studying the sediment area, we will be able to collect evidence that can help us understand the possibility that life existed in the process of environmental change.”

In addition to radar exploration, Perseverance is also collecting soil and rock samples. NASA is also pursuing a mission to return to Earth with samples collected by Perseverance. When the sample arrives on Earth, it is expected that its chemical characteristics will be analyzed to confirm in detail environmental changes on Mars and the possibility of life existing.

Meanwhile, in July of last year, ‘Nature’ published a paper stating that Perseverance had discovered traces of organic molecules suggesting the possibility of the presence of microorganisms. Perseverance’s ability to produce oxygen was also confirmed. The oxygen generator ‘Moxy’ developed by a research team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology succeeded in converting Mars’ carbon dioxide into oxygen.

Donga Science Reporter Moon Se-young moon09@donga.com

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