Life and Water on Mars

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At this late date, it seems that arguing against water in some form on Mars would be quite to the contrary of the reams of data gathered which seem to indicate past standing liquid water on Mars and current frozen water. Due to salt residues, gullies, and PAH’s, scientists are quite sure that water did once exist on Mars. The question now is whether water still exists on Mars today. This is important for future possible colonies, as the presence of water would greatly aid whatever civilized life we place there. without water, colonist would be forced to either bring water with them or melt polar ice water. Both of these prospects would be expensive.

            The 2001 Mars Odyssey found residues of salts on the surface using the orbiting cameras. Over 200 individual places appear to exist where these special salts are found. This could indicate abundant water which might have stood at some point in the past. The location of these places near channels is congruent with what we understand of earth water and could point to the potential for previous life on Mars.

            The presence of hematite as found by Opportunity indicate water in the basin at some point as well. The existence of “berries” could also be related to water on Mars, though some scientists believe it was an impact of volcanic activity rather than water activity. There is speculation based upon the salt brines that liquid water could exist under the surface of Mars, kept from freezing by the high amount of salt it contains. proof of this will have to wait for subsurface measurements which probably can not take place until a manned mission to Mars. The likelihood of such water could advance the possibility of such a mission, though it will be a long time coming even so. The surface of Mars will have to be more fully investigated to determine how to best protect our first Martian adventurers. Should water exist in the subsurface there could potentially be microbial life living there. The existence of such microbes would at long last settle any doubts as to life on Mars and perhaps even indicate more advanced life forms present in the past.

            Sedimentary rock layers seem to indicate that Mars once had standing lakes. If these exist then the probability of life existing at some point on Mars could be very high. Massive outflow channels indicate discharges of water that would be more than the Mississippi flooding. These rivers and lakes would presumably have lead into an ocean which covered the lowlands of Mars.

            The possibility and probability of life on Mars is dependent on the existence of water. Continued searches by the 2001 Mars Odyssey and other upcoming space missions could definitively answer all our questions about water and through that medium, life on Mars. In the future, scientists will no doubt study each piece of data brought back from Mars carefully. This expensive project may not be money wasted as we continue to look for viable places for human life to exist later in colonies, perhaps on Mars.

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