The discovery of a large saltwater lake at Mars’s south pole came around the news two years back. However, confirmed by the researchers in recent time and detected three more. The study used radar data from the European Space Agency’s Mars-orbiting spacecraft known as Mars Express.
In 2018, the discovery of a subsurface lake was reported but not confirmed yet. But all these claims lack strong evidence to support such theories. It would be the first water body ever detected in Mars, and hence the increased possibilities of life forms.
So how they foster the answers for such complex questions? To predict, researchers take the help of a radar instrument to send out radio waves. These waves reach the Red planet’s surface and sub surfaces. After hitting the surface, these waves bounce back from the type of material present on Martian surfaces. The pattern of their (radio waves) reflection tells us about the kind of substances present on the surface, for example, water. Using similar techniques, a group of researcher observed high reflectivity around some areas. Based on reflectivity data, the team predicted the presence of liquid water beneath the Martian ice, covering an area of about 75,000 square kilometres.
The Science of Martian Salt lakes
What makes the liquid water implausible is the unstable atmosphere and the low pressure on the surface of Mars. However, the problem remains with the theory of Martian life, could be the concentration of salt in these water bodies. It’s believed that for the underground reservoir of water on Mars to remain liquid, must contain a higher amount of salt concentration. Usually, the salt content of 5 times higher than that of sea-water, can support life. However, when the concentration reaches 20 times higher than that of sea-water, the absence of life forms becomes more prominent. Confirming the existence of such reservoirs would be the first discovery, and hint the potential environment for life forms on Mars.