NASA’s Curiosity Rover has made a groundbreaking discovery on Mars, uncovering evidence of ancient, ice-free ponds and lakes that once existed on the Red Planet.
The Curiosity Rover, exploring the Gale Crater since its arrival on Mars in 2012, recently found small, wave-like ripples on the Martian surface. These undulations are similar to those formed by wind-driven water in sandy lakebeds on Earth. The ripples’ presence strongly suggests that the water was exposed to the atmosphere, rather than being frozen under ice. This finding is significant as it indicates that Mars’ climate in the past may have been warm enough to support liquid water in open conditions.

The discovery of these ripples is the clearest evidence to date that Mars once had bodies of liquid water on its surface. The ripples are thought to have formed around 3.7 billion years ago, a time when Mars’ atmosphere was likely much warmer and denser than it is today. According to the researchers, this environment would have allowed liquid water to flow freely across the Martian surface, much like it does on Earth today. The analysis of these wave patterns offers valuable clues about Mars’ ancient climate and the potential for microbial life.

The ripples found by Curiosity are preserved in Martian rock, providing a direct record of the planet’s past hydrological activity. Two sets of wave ripples were identified in the Gale Crater, with the first set found in wind-blown dunes and the second set in sulfate-rich rock formations. The patterns suggest that these bodies of water existed during different periods in Mars’ history, supporting the theory that Mars may have experienced long stretches of warm, wet conditions over billions of years.

Researchers used computer simulations to model the size and depth of the ancient Martian lake based on the ripple patterns. The size and separation of the ripples suggest that the lake was shallow, possibly less than 2 meters deep. These models provide further insights into the extent of liquid water on the planet’s surface and contribute to ongoing studies of Mars’ paleoclimate, helping scientists understand how the Red Planet’s climate has evolved.