Mars Gravity Maps Reveal Strange Hidden Structures Beneath Surface
A unique gravity map of Mars has been unveiled by scientists at the Europlanet Science Congress 2024. It reveals the presence of key structures beneath Mars’ ancient ocean and highlights how mantle processes are affecting Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the solar system. The study is based on data from NASA’s InSIGHT (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) mission and small satellite anomalies.
Reevaluation of the Geology of Mars
The upcoming paper, “Mars’ global gravity field reveals an active interior,” led by Bart Root of Delft University of Technology and published in Universe Today, challenges established geological theories. It questions the concept of flexural isostasy, which traditionally describes how a planet’s lithosphere, consisting of the crust and upper mantle, responds to large-scale loading.
On Earth, such a load would typically cause the lithosphere to bend downward, slightly uplifting the surrounding areas. Mars’ Tharsis Montes, a vast volcanic region, contradicts this model. Instead of sinking, Tharsis Montes is noticeably uplifted.
The Hidden Features of Mars
The researchers suggest that active processes in the Martian mantle are pushing Tharsis Montes upward, according to a Science Alert reportThey identified a large mass about 1,750 kilometers wide and 1,100 kilometers deep, likely a mantle plume that exerted enough force to counteract the downward pressure of the volcanic region’s mass.
In addition, the study revealed dense, mysterious structures beneath the northern polar plains of Mars. These anomalies, buried beneath a smooth layer of sediment, are about 300–400 kg/m³ denser than their surroundings. While similar structures on Earth’s moon have been linked to impact basins, the anomalies in the northern hemisphere of Mars show no such surface traces.
Future exploration plans
To further investigate these enigmatic structures and the gravity of Mars, researchers advocate the Martian Quantum Gravity (MaQuls) mission. Dr. Lisa Wörner from the German Aerospace Center (DLR), who presented the mission at EPSC2024, explained that MaQuls would use technology similar to the GRAIL and GRACE missions. This mission could provide deeper insights into the subsurface features of Mars and the ongoing mantle convection, improving our understanding of the planet’s dynamic processes.
