The possibility of water on Mars has captivated scientists and enthusiasts alike for decades. As the planet most similar to Earth, Mars has long been a focal point for researchers aiming to uncover its secrets and assess its habitability. A new study from Penn State University suggests that marsquakes—seismic events on Mars—could be the key to detecting traces of liquid water deep beneath the planet’s surface.
Mars, often referred to as the red planet, might have once been blue, covered with vast oceans. Today, any potential water on Mars is likely buried deep underground, far beyond the reach of conventional detection methods. Researchers from Penn State propose that studying marsquakes could provide a novel approach to finding this hidden water.
According to their paper published in *JGR Planets*, marsquakes traveling through underground aquifers generate electromagnetic signals. These signals, if detected on Mars, could indicate the presence of liquid water miles beneath the surface. Nolan Roth, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Geosciences at Penn State and the study’s lead author, explains that these signals would be unique and diagnostic of modern-day water on Mars.
“If marsquakes pass through the subsurface and encounter water, they would create specific signals,” Roth stated. “These signals could help us identify current water on Mars, in addition to supporting existing theories that the planet once had oceans which have since dried up.”
The method proposed by the researchers, known as the seismoelectrical method, is not entirely new. It is experimental and currently being tested on Earth to detect underground fluids. On Earth, the presence of moisture in the ground can muddle the electromagnetic signals, making detection challenging. However, Mars’s dry surface layers might enhance the effectiveness of this method.
Tieyuan Zhu, a geophysicist at Penn State and a co-researcher, notes that Mars’s dry surface naturally filters out noise, providing clearer data for analysis. This allows researchers to better characterize aquifer properties and identify potential water sources.
Moving forward, the team plans to analyze existing data for signs of Martian groundwater. NASA’s InSight Lander, a robotic explorer launched in 2018, has been instrumental in this research. Equipped with a seismometer, the InSight Lander has been recording marsquakes and mapping the Martian subsurface. However, seismometers alone struggle to differentiate between water, gas, and less dense rock. To address this, the mission also includes a magnetometer to assist in identifying seismoelectrical signals.
By combining data from both the seismometer and magnetometer, scientists hope to detect the unique signals indicative of liquid water. If successful, this approach could revolutionize our understanding of Mars’s geology and its potential for supporting life.
The quest to find water on Mars is far from over, but the innovative approach of using marsquakes offers a promising new avenue. As researchers continue to analyze data and refine their methods, the dream of discovering water—and perhaps even life—on Mars edges closer to reality.
