Advertisement

  1. National

Nasa: Mars has flowing water

Flowing liquid water is almost certainly responsible for mysterious features on Mars that change with the seasons, scientists believe.

Satellite images have identified narrow streaks, typically less than five metres wide, that appear on slopes during warm seasons, lengthen, and then fade when conditions become cooler.

Experts have speculated that water might be involved in the formation of the gully-like features, known as recurring slope lineae (RSL), but only now has evidence supporting the theory come to light.

View all 9 updates ›

Seasonal Mars landscape changes shaped by 'water activity'

The images show Martian terrain changing with the seasons. Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

Mysterious features on Mars that change with the seasons are almost certainly created by flowing liquid water, scientists at Nasa believe.

Latest satellite images have identified narrow streaks, typically less than five metres (16.4 ft) wide, that appear on slopes during warm seasons, lengthen, and then fade when conditions become cooler.

Experts have speculated that water might be involved in the formation of the gully-like features, known as recurring slope lineae, but only now has evidence supporting the theory come to light.

Liquid water could suggest that the surface of Mars is able to support life.

Nasa wrote: "Water is essential to life as we know it. The presence of liquid water on Mars today has astrobiological, geologic and hydrologic implications and may affect future human exploration."

More on this story