Oceans on Mars. The Writer

¶ … oceans on Mars. The writer uses discussions about past studies that indicate there has been water on Mars. There were three sources used to complete this paper.

As the world continues to populate and natural resources begin to look thin scientists have devoted double time to figuring out where future generations are going to live. The leading contender thus far is the planet Mars, both due to its proximity to earth and the belief that it is a planet capable of sustaining human life. One of the most important elements of human life is the need for water. Without water humans cannot survive, therefore any possible location for future migration by the human species must include the existence of water.

Mars has been examined closely and through the studies that have been conducted it does appear that water once existed in the form of oceans on the planet.

Evidence

The strongest piece of evidence that at one time, oceans existed on Mars has been the proof of past flooding by way of water carved channels into the planet's northern plains.

In addition to the probable flooding that occurred, scientists have also recently discovered evidence of past oceans existing.

Using instruments specifically designed to measure mineralogy on Mars experts have been able to determine that some of the mineral deposits in existence came from water and salt (Mars, 2006).

Clays that have been found on the planet are indicative of water eroded riverbeds as well.

While the belief that Mars has had oceans dates back to the 1800's when Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaperelli peered through a telescope in 1887 and saw a pattern of linear markings on the Martian surface, it was not until recently that science has been able to study the possibility more closely (Cowen, 2002).

Many experts suspect that oceans flooded some regions and that rivers coursed through others. All of which supports the notion that life may once have flourished on the Red Planet (Cowen, 2002)."

The question is no longer whether or not oceans existed on Mars, but is now, where have they gone? There are several theories about what happened to the oceans including the possibility that they have gone underground or over a long period evaporated into the atmosphere.