GoKawiilExoMars Orbiter Data Suggests Recent Volcanic Activity Near Mars's Alba Mons
A study in Science Advances reports that the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter detected unexpected spikes of hydrogen chloride gas around the flanks of Alba Mons, Mars's largest volcano by surface area. Researchers also identified newly discovered fissures thousands of feet long with mineral discoloration resembling volcanic gas vents on Earth, pointing to gas seeping from underground.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
If confirmed, the findings could challenge the long-held view that Mars is geologically inert, suggesting the planet may have retained enough internal heat to drive volcanism into the recent past or even today, according to coauthor Daniel Mège. This could imply Mars once had a warmer, thicker atmosphere capable of sustaining liquid water, which would bolster theories about past habitability, though the researchers frame this as a possibility rather than a confirmed conclusion.
- ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter data from 2021 revealed unusual hydrogen chloride emissions near Alba Mons.
- Newly found fissures with mineral discoloration suggest gas may be escaping from underground magma.
- The results hint Mars could have been geologically active more recently than previously believed, with implications for past habitability.
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Published there as: “Orbiter Detects Signs of Activity on Mars”
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