A group of scientists from the German Aerospace Center examined the properties of the soil on Mars and found the reasons for its hardness. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Geophysical Research Letters (GRL).
According to their findings, the temperature in the upper 40 centimeters of the Martian surface leads to the formation of hardening salt films in the soil.
The team determined that the density of the top 30 centimeters of soil was comparable to basalt sand. This material is common on Earth and is formed by the weathering of volcanic rocks rich in iron and magnesium.
The soil density beneath this layer is comparable to compacted sand and coarser pieces of basalt.
The team found that the Red Planet’s surface temperature fluctuates by only 5 to 7°C over the course of a Martian day; this is a very small fraction of the 110 to 130°C fluctuations observed at the surface.
This suggests that the Martian soil acts as an insulator, significantly reducing large temperature differences at shallow depths.
According to the researchers, this factor could affect potential biological processes related to possible microbial life on Mars.
Previous scientists I learnedWhere exactly to look for life on Mars?
What are you thinking?
Source: Gazeta
Barbara Dickson is a seasoned writer for “Social Bites”. She keeps readers informed on the latest news and trends, providing in-depth coverage and analysis on a variety of topics.