Zhurong Rover Unveils Ancient Polygonal Terrain Under Mars’ Utopia Planitia
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 21, 2023
A team of researchers from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IGGCAS) has made a significant discovery using the Zhurong rover’s ground-penetrating radar on Mars. Their study, conducted in the expansive Utopia Planitia region, reveals buried palaeo-polygonal terrain, suggesting that this area experienced considerable climatic variability in ancient Martian history.
The Utopia Planitia, a vast impact basin on Mars, has long intrigued scientists due to its unique geological features and potential for past water activity. Zhurong, part of China’s Tianwen-1 mission that touched down on Mars in May 2021, has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of Martian geology.
In their research, the IGGCAS team utilized a time-frequency analysis technique to process radar data from Zhurong. This method enabled them to investigate subsurface structures in detail. Remarkably, they identified 16 polygonal wedges more than 35 meters deep within approximately 1.2 kilometers of the landing site, indicating a potentially widespread distribution of this terrain under Utopia Planitia.
These polygons, formed by freeze-thaw cycles, are significant as they point to an ancient Mars that was considerably different from what we see today. The geometric features of these polygons, along with the geological context of the landing site, support the hypothesis of their formation through repeated freezing and thawing – a process typically involving water.
The research team’s findings also highlight a striking change in subsurface frequency features above and below the 35-meter depth mark, suggesting a transformation in aqueous activity or thermal conditions during the Late Hesperian to Early Amazonian periods. This era on Mars, characterized by reduced volcanic activity and the end of widespread water flow, might have seen the mid-latitudinal region of the planet experience a cold and wet environment near the freezing point of water.
This discovery not only sheds light on the past climate of Mars but also enriches our understanding of its palaeoclimatic evolution. The evidence that the Utopia Planitia, currently a low-to-mid latitude region, was once a cold polar region and underwent significant climatic changes, is crucial for piecing together the Martian environmental puzzle.
The role of Mars’s high obliquity in inducing these climatic shifts is a noteworthy aspect of this study. The planet’s axial tilt, which has varied over time, is a key factor influencing its climatic conditions. The potential for such drastic environmental changes on Mars raises intriguing questions about its capacity to support life in its ancient past.
The findings from the IGGCAS team, aided by the technological prowess of the Zhurong rover, offer a novel perspective for studying Mars’s palaeoclimatic evolution. As our exploration of the Red Planet continues, each discovery like this one brings us closer to unraveling the mysteries of Mars’s ancient climate and environmental history.
Research Report:Buried palaeo-polygonal terrain detected underneath Utopia Planitia on Mars by the Zhurong radar
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