Extraordinary giant structures discovered beneath the surface of Mars
It has left experts utterly perplexed yet greatly intrigued.
Researchers have identified, in an intriguing study, an enormous subsurface formation, estimated to be approximately 1,750 kilometres (slightly over 1,000 miles) in diameter, situated at a depth of around 1,100 kilometres (around 684 miles).
The region possessing the largest volcano in our solar system is Olympus Mons.
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It reveals Mars is still experiencing internal movements that cause fresh volcanic formations on its surface.
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The team, headed by Bart Root of the Delft University of Technology, believe that the massive mass is conceivably a mantle plume that is rising beneath Tharsis Montes.
"The research indicates that a plume head is currently rising up towards the Earth's outer layer, suggesting the possibility of future volcanic activity," the authors state in their study.
In other words, if this mantle plume were to eventually break through to the surface of Mars, it could lead to some volcanic eruptions in the coming times as well as spectacular and magnificent scenes on the red planet.
Moreover, the significant height of Tharsis Montes compared to the rest of Mars' terrain implies that the substantial volcanic foundation is being raised upwards.
This contradicts a deeply entrenched geological concept known as flexural isostasy, which declares that when a heavy mass bears down on the lithosphere, the latter should yield by sinking.
"We must re-evaluate our understanding of the large volcano and its surrounding area," the authors insist.
Furthermore, the team discovered other gravitational irregularities, such as mysterious, densely-packed formations beneath Mars' northern polar expanse.
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For context, the Earth's Moon also hosts various gravitational irregularities, which are linked to massive impact craters.
Researchers propose that the impactors responsible for forming the basins were more massive than the Moon, resulting in their material being incorporated into the Moon's composition upon collision.
Despite recent discoveries of unusual gravitational anomalies on Mars, there appears to be no visible sign of them on the planet's surface.
Speaking of these polar discoveries, Dr Root said in a statement: "These dense formations may either be volcanic in origin or may be the result of compressed material exacerbated by ancient impacts."
We have discovered approximately 20 landmarks of different sizes scattered around the north polar region, and one of these exhibits a shape reminiscent of a canine.
He noted: "There appears to be no sign of them at the surface, but intriguingly, we can gain insight into the northern hemisphere of Mars's older past through gravity data."
Although Root and his colleagues acknowledge that more data is required to fully understand these intriguing formations, they agree further investigation is necessary, which will involve launching a new expedition.
The proposed mission has been renamed the Martian Quantum Gravity (MaQuls), and will be founded on the same technology harnessed in previous expeditions which mapped the gravitation of the Moon and the Earth.
"Studies carried out with MaQuIs will allow us to gain a more thorough understanding of Mars' subsurface”, Dr Lisa Wörner of the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) commented at the Europlanet Science Congress 2024.
This would enable us to discover more about these enigmatic concealed features and investigate persistent mantle currents, as well as comprehend dynamic surface processes such as atmospheric seasonal fluctuations and the identification of underground water reservoirs.
This piece was first published on 16 September 2024
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