Mars once had an ocean

"The European Space Agency’s (ESA's) Mars
Express has returned strong evidence of an ocean
once covering part of Mars. Using radar, it has
detected sediments reminiscent of an ocean floor
within the boundaries of previously identified, ancient
shorelines on Mars."

See:

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.ph...ogy&Itemid=204

On Feb 7, 10:06*am, wrote:
"The European Space Agency’s (ESA's) Mars
Express has returned strong evidence of an ocean
once covering part of Mars. Using radar, it has
detected sediments reminiscent of an ocean floor
within the boundaries of previously identified, ancient
shorelines on Mars."

See:

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.ph...t&view=article....

I'd suppose early on the terrestrial planet all had thicker
atmospheres with
perhaps Mercury the exception. It does make me wonder to what extent
a thick CO2 atmosphere can shift the life habitable zone. Or even a
'simple'
Earth-like atmosphere that is thicker as well?

I suppose incoming objects from space might have keep more complex
life beat down, if they were present.

wrote in message
...

"The European Space Agency's (ESA's) Mars
Express has returned strong evidence of an ocean
once covering part of Mars. Using radar, it has
detected sediments reminiscent of an ocean floor
within the boundaries of previously identified, ancient
shorelines on Mars."

See:

http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.ph...ogy&Itemid=204


............................

You've only scratched the surface when it comes to water
on Mars.

Mars has a /currently existing/ frozen ocean the size of the North Sea.
Some 900 km by 800 km in size, and some 45 meters deep.
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2005/pdf/1741.pdf

Water melts out and flows on the surface of Mars....TODAY.
This animation (a couple of clicks down) shows water flowing now.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/0..._n_918860.html

Various images of water melting out.
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=...M=IGRE#x0y1534

Read this paper written ..before the rovers left, which was studying
a lake on Earth similar to the conditions expected on Mars.
They were trying to figure what kinds of life a Mars hot-spring
might produce.

BIOGENIC STRUCTURES FROM A HYPERSALINE LAKE
IN THE BAHAMAS.
Lunar and Planetary Science XXXII (2001) 1068.pdf

" Our FE-SEM analy-sis indicates a range of microbial life forms
on the fractured stromatolite surfaces. Spheroidal features are the
most common, with four distinct populations, characterized
by their highly uniform intrapopulation sizes:"
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2001/pdf/1068.pdf

Then look at what the Opportunity Rover found at Meridiani in the
pics below. Emphasis on ...spheroidal and especially "highly uniform
intrapopulation sizes".

Wide angle images
http://areo.info/mer/opportunity/180...5L5L6.jpg.html
http://areo.info/mer/opportunity/012...5L5L6.jpg.html
http://areo.info/mer/opportunity/505...5L6L6.jpg.html
http://areo.info/mer/opportunity/123...L2L5L5L6L6.jpg
http://areo.info/mer/opportunity/183...5L7L7.jpg.html
http://areo.info/mer/opportunity/533...5L5L6.jpg.html
http://areo.info/mer/opportunity/186...L4L5L5L5L6.jpg


Various micro imager pictures of spheres (field of view postage stamp size)

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...nity_m014.html
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...nity_m182.html
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...P2956M2M1.HTML
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...P2956M2M1.HTML
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...P2933M2M1.HTML
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...P2953M2M1.HTML
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...P2953M2M1.HTML
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...P2957M2M1.HTML
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...P2956M2M1.HTML



Take a look at this wonderful picture.. Only an ocean or ice-sheet could
create a horizon you can use as a straight-edge. Spheres coat that entire
field all the way to the horizon.
http://areo.info/mer/opportunity/069...5L5L6.jpg.html

Now, the next question is how long ago was an ocean or ice sheet there?
A billion years ago? A million? A thousand?

These two pictures below dates how long ago water was there in a way
a child could see. Put these two pics side by side and compare
the delicate erosion pattern cast in the....SHADOWS of each.
How long could that last? Years?

Yellowstone mudpot
http://www.nps.gov/features/yell/sli...ages/05402.jpg

Meridiani crater wall
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opp...1P2397R1M1.JPG


There's plenty of perfectly good reasons NASA just shipped a
$2.5 billion rover to Mars dedicated to just finding ...life.
http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/



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