Recent Liquid Water on Mars?

[Mars crater with water seepage]

NASA held a press conference on Thursday, June 22, 2000, to discuss the recent discovery of evidence of liquid water on the surface of Mars. The evidence is presented in a Science magazine article, "Evidence for recent groundwater seepage and surface runoff on Mars" which was released today at 10:00 a.m. EDT, an hour before the press conference. The findings, presented by the authors Dr. Michael Malin and Dr. Ken Edgett, are based on images taken by the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft. The image at right shows gullies carved into the side of the Noachis impact crater.

Abstract from "Evidence for recent groundwater seepage and surface runoff on Mars"

Relatively young landforms on Mars, seen in high-resolution images acquired by the Mars Global Surveyor Mars Orbiter Camera since March 1999, suggest the presence of sources of liquid water at shallow depths beneath the martian surface. Found at middle and high martian latitudes (particularly in the southern hemisphere), gullies within the walls of a very small number of impact craters, south polar pits, and two of the larger martian valleys display geomorphic features that can be explained by processes associated with ground water seepage and surface runoff. The relative youth of the landforms is indicated by the superposition of the gullies on otherwise geologically young surfaces and by the absence of superimposed landforms or cross-cutting features, including impact craters, small polygons, and eolian dunes. The limited size and geographic distribution of the features argues for constrained source reservoirs.

NASA Press Release
Science Magazine Press Release
Images showing evidence of water on Mars
Science Magazine Article - Evidence for recent groundwater seepage and surface runoff on Mars

Links to News Stories on the Discovery

Space.com - Scientists Report Water in Gullies on Mars
NASA Science News
BBC - Water May Flow on Mars
Spaceviews - Spacecraft Detects Recent Water Flows on Mars
Spaceflight Now - NASA Probe Finds Evidence of Liquid Water on Mars
Florida Today - Possibility of Water on Mars has Scienstists Gushing
Discovery Channel - Water Found on Mars

Mars Global Surveyor
Mars Fact Sheet
Mars Home Page
Viking
More images of Mars - Catalog of Spaceborne Imaging
[NASA Logo]
Author/Curator:
Dr. David R. Williams, dave.williams@nasa.gov
NSSDC, Mail Code 690.1
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, MD 20771
+1-301-286-1258

NASA Official: Ed Grayzeck, edwin.j.grayzeck@nasa.gov
Last Updated: 06 January 2005, DRW