Scientists have calculated that large reservoirs of water exist about 6-10 miles beneath the surface of Mars. This was found by processing data from a Martian rover that measures seismic activity on the planet. The process is similar to the way geologists measure earthquakes to look for water and oil deposits under the earth’s surface.
Huge underground caverns filled with lakes are not dissimilar from Jules Verne’s vision in Journey to the Center of the Earth. While there are likely no large animals that far beneath the surface, the biomass of such reservoirs may approach or even succeed those of the French author’s vision, which had dinosaur-sized creatures roaming the shores. Imagine huge colonies of microbes, fish, or rock-dependent life-forms, and you might be foreseeing the red planet’s very own subterranean biosphere.
I’m glad this water is far below the surface because it presents a formidable challenge for humans to drill for water and exploit it through colonizing the planet. Such activity would destroy potential Martain ecosystems in the process. (I can’t believe I am seriously writing about Martian ecosystems!). Billionaire Mars investors like Elon Musk would not be thrilled about having to drill 6 miles for irrigation. Now, if water was found to be closer to the surface, we’d have a much bigger story, and these investors would be accelerating their missions to go there. It would be the biggest space story of the century.
Huge underground caverns filled with lakes are not dissimilar from Jules Verne’s vision in Journey to the Center of the Earth. While there are likely no large animals that far beneath the surface, the biomass of such reservoirs may approach or even succeed those of the French author’s vision, which had dinosaur-sized creatures roaming the shores. Imagine huge colonies of microbes, fish, or rock-dependent life-forms, and you might be foreseeing the red planet’s very own subterranean biosphere.
I’m glad this water is far below the surface because it presents a formidable challenge for humans to drill for water and exploit it through colonizing the planet. Such activity would destroy potential Martain ecosystems in the process. (I can’t believe I am seriously writing about Martian ecosystems!). Billionaire Mars investors like Elon Musk would not be thrilled about having to drill 6 miles for irrigation. Now, if water was found to be closer to the surface, we’d have a much bigger story, and these investors would be accelerating their missions to go there. It would be the biggest space story of the century.
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