Whether Mars may have had or has a livable environment is one of the objectives of Curiosity robot, q ue found evidence of liquid salt water on Mars, at least in the first inches from the floor of Gale Crater and overnight.
Since the Curiosity (Nasa) landed on the surface of Mars in August 2012 sent a battery data have shown, among others, the presence of fluctuations of methane in the atmosphere of this planet or fixed nitrogen in sediments.
These findings could be related to a possible biological activity . Nitrogen, for example, is known to be an essential for life, also the water element. Now, thanks to Spanish and Russian instrument Rems DAN, Curiosity has found that in Mars Gale Crater conditions are met for there brine, salt-laden water.
The results of this new finding published in the journal Nature Geoscience, in an article headed by Javier Martin-Torres, the Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences (Csic and the University of Granada) and the University Lulea of Technology (Sweden).
“This is the first evidence that conditions exist on Mars so that there is liquid water is found,” explains Torres, who nevertheless has stated that e stas environmental conditions occur at night and no day
This is because Mars differences between day and night are radicals. up to 90 degrees difference in temperature and relative humidity in the environment that can vary from 100 percent at night and almost 0 percent during the day.
What conditions are encountered by the Curiosity for researchers deduced that there brine at night? As explained Martin-Torres, the robot has collected over a Martian year, which is equivalent to almost two terrestres- years and nine kilometers, data relative humidity, temperature and pressure. Further analysis of these parameters is what has given researchers clues about the possible existence of brine.
“The salts of the surface of Mars would be able to absorb the steam water from the atmosphere during the night and especially in winter, water would evaporate after sunrise, “the Spanish researcher.
Liquid water is a prerequisite for life as we know it. Although there are now indications of the existence of liquid water on Mars, the environmental conditions of the planet prevent life, “at least as we know it”: temperatures in the crater Gale are too low for metabolism and cell reproduction, such as currently seen on Earth, emphasizes Martin-Torres.
“However, the possibility of liquid water on Mars has huge implications for the habitability of the planet, to future exploration and geological processes related to water, “says the scientist.
The Gale Crater is one of the places” less likely “on Mars there brine because it is the most hot and dry zone “if any herein, may be in many other parts of the world,” confirmed Alfred McEwen of the University of Arizona and co-author of the study, according to a press Nasa.
“Models and measures taken under the surface predict that below 15 inches deep salts remain hydrated during the day and throughout the year, but no liquid phase, “added Martin-Torres in a footnote Csic.
This work also provides a possible explanation for the detachment of material have been observed around the globe and occur in warmer periods, according to the authors, these landslides could be caused by changes in state of brines present in soil materials
EFE
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