The recent discovery of evidence that giant tsunamis may have happened on Mars suggests that the planet once had an atmosphere and oceans. Many scientists and astronomers have long speculated that Mars contained great oceans but had no real actual proof until now. Most believe that a planet that contains water, especially oceans, would likely be able to sustain advanced life forms.
The study and findings were carried out in Arizona at the Planetary Science Institute and published in the recent issue of the journal Scientific Reports.
The researchers believe that they have discovered evidence and traces of at least two gigantic tsunamis happening on the planet’s surface approximately 3.4 billion years ago. They didn’t state how they determined that they could postulate that they happened many billions of years ago.
The research states that the tsunami waves came out of the ocean at around 400 feet high and created shore waves that extended up at least 150 feet. The scientists looked for evidence of a backwash situation similar to what happens after a tsunami has passed through here on Earth. However, they found it almost impossibly because of all the surface battering and erosion that has occurred for so long a time.
The researcher did manage to locate what they believe were ancient coastlines. With the assistance of images from the Mars Odyssey, they began to investigate the open flat planes of northern Mars in the areas that have been dubbed Chryse Planitia and Arabia Terra. The watermarks that they discovered in these two regions resembled the remnants of coastlines to them.
They found sediment as well as outcroppings and the remains of huge boulders and other rocks. This all, they believe, was thrown up and out by the tsunami and landed in these particular areas after the tsunamis had receded. There were also giant grooves that led back to the shoreline which suggested to the researchers that the tsunami had happened and then the water finally receded and washed back into the oceans.
In addition, the researchers discovered some huge craters that they speculate were created by meteors. These seven huge craters, they believe, are what may have triggered and caused the tsunamis to originally form. Despite the current conditions on Mars, the scientists believe that the oceans could have lasted for millions of years because they believed them to be briny enough to have been sustained for so long a time.
PHOTO CREDIT: Nature.com