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Ice lake found on the Red Planet * PIC *

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Analog

Analog

Lifer
Jan 7, 2002
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A giant patch of frozen water has been pictured nestled within an unnamed impact crater on Mars.

The photographs were taken by the High Resolution Stereo Camera on board Mars Express, the European Space Agency probe which is exploring the planet.

The ice disc is located on Vastitas Borealis, a broad plain that covers much of Mars' far northern latitudes.

The existence of water on Mars raises the prospect that past or present life will one day be detected.

It also boosts the chances that manned missions can eventually be sent to the Red Planet.

Highly visible

The highly visible ice is sitting in a crater which is 35 km (23 miles) wide, with a maximum depth of about two km (1.2 miles).

Scientists believe the water ice is present all year round because the temperature and pressure are not sufficient to allow it to change states.

Researchers studying the images are sure it is not frozen carbon dioxide (CO2), because CO2 ice had already disappeared from the north polar cap at the time the image was taken.

The team have also been able to detect faint traces of water ice along the rim of the crater and on the crater walls.

Mars is covered with deep gorges, apparently carved out by rivers and glaciers, although most of the water vanished millions of years ago.

Earlier this year, the European Space Agency detected what they called a huge "frozen sea", but it is located below the surface of the planet.

Large reserves of water-ice are also known to be held at the poles on Mars. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4727847.stm


Hi Res Pic thanks to MoobyTheGoldenCalf: http://esamultimedia.esa.int/images/mar...10-010705-1343-6-co-01-CraterIce_H.jpg
 
R

Rogue

Banned
Jan 28, 2000
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How exactly would they go about terraforming Mars anyway for future human population beyond pressure sealed buildings, etc? Is it even possible?
 
JohnCU

JohnCU

Banned
Dec 9, 2000
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Originally posted by: Rogue
How exactly would they go about terraforming Mars anyway for future human population beyond pressure sealed buildings, etc? Is it even possible?
Click to expand...

i think i read one time that they were gonna add gases to the atmosphere to create an ozone layer or something? maybe that was science fiction.
 
nakedfrog

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
62,838
19,056
136
Originally posted by: Rogue
How exactly would they go about terraforming Mars anyway for future human population beyond pressure sealed buildings, etc? Is it even possible?
Click to expand...

Yeah, it's possible, but it's a difficult, long-term project.
 
Fritzo

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,920
2,161
126
Originally posted by: JohnCU
Originally posted by: Rogue
How exactly would they go about terraforming Mars anyway for future human population beyond pressure sealed buildings, etc? Is it even possible?
Click to expand...

i think i read one time that they were gonna add gases to the atmosphere to create an ozone layer or something? maybe that was science fiction.
Click to expand...

No, you have it nearly right. It has been shown that you could terraform Mars in 200-300 years. I read a book on the subject a few years back and it was really interesting. It would be done in stages, which went something like this:

Stage 1: Mining modules would be set up to extract CO2 from rocks and pump it into the atmosphere, creating a greenhouse effect.

Stage 2: When pressure and temperature rise to sufficient levels, genetically altered plants with radiation resistance and a high CO2-O2 conversion rate. These plants will suck most of the CO2 out and replace it with oxygen. We'll need a source of "filler" gas as well (like nitrogen) to dilute the oxygen, otherwise we'll blow the planet up. I don't remember their solution for that.

Stage 3: Limited population would begin cultivating food plants and redirecting water to useful locations. Temperatures at this point around the equator would be 40F-70F. Trees would be planted in plains to stop wind storms.

Stage 4: Colonies will start to be seeded on the planet. An ozone shield should form over time due to the oxygen production. Within 400 years the planet should be very habitable.

Of course, the book also estimated we would need another 100-300 years of technology under our belts before we could do this :)
 
R

rmrf

Platinum Member
May 14, 2003
2,872
0
0
Originally posted by: Fritzo
Originally posted by: JohnCU
Originally posted by: Rogue
How exactly would they go about terraforming Mars anyway for future human population beyond pressure sealed buildings, etc? Is it even possible?
Click to expand...

i think i read one time that they were gonna add gases to the atmosphere to create an ozone layer or something? maybe that was science fiction.
Click to expand...

No, you have it nearly right. It has been shown that you could terraform Mars in 200-300 years. I read a book on the subject a few years back and it was really interesting. It would be done in stages, which went something like this:

Stage 1: Mining modules would be set up to extract CO2 from rocks and pump it into the atmosphere, creating a greenhouse effect.

Stage 2: When pressure and temperature rise to sufficient levels, genetically altered plants with radiation resistance and a high CO2-O2 conversion rate. These plants will suck most of the CO2 out and replace it with oxygen. We'll need a source of "filler" gas as well (like nitrogen) to dilute the oxygen, otherwise we'll blow the planet up. I don't remember their solution for that.

Stage 3: Limited population would begin cultivating food plants and redirecting water to useful locations. Temperatures at this point around the equator would be 40F-70F. Trees would be planted in plains to stop wind storms.

Stage 4: Colonies will start to be seeded on the planet. An ozone shield should form over time due to the oxygen production. Within 400 years the planet should be very habitable.

Of course, the book also estimated we would need another 100-300 years of technology under our belts before we could do this :)
Click to expand...

you mean it's not like star trek where you just shoot a laser in the right spots and it immediately makes the atmosphere stable? :p
 
shilala

shilala

Lifer
Oct 5, 2004
11,437
1
76
I bet there's a bunch of Mastadons in that lump of ice.
It's going to be really cool when they finally bring some samples back, open up the bottles, and life as we know it ends on this planet.
We're all way too fvckin smart for our own good.
 
B

bonkers325

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
13,076
1
0
Originally posted by: shilala
I bet there's a bunch of Mastadons in that lump of ice.
It's going to be really cool when they finally bring some samples back, open up the bottles, and life as we know it ends on this planet.
We're all way too fvckin smart for our own good.
Click to expand...

quick put on your tinfoil hat
 
M

mordantmonkey

Diamond Member
Dec 23, 2004
3,075
5
0
that's a real picture, but i remember seeing it like a week ago.
i remember reading that the high walls of the crater sheild the ice from being melted by the sun.
 
shilala

shilala

Lifer
Oct 5, 2004
11,437
1
76
Originally posted by: bonkers325
Originally posted by: shilala
I bet there's a bunch of Mastadons in that lump of ice.
It's going to be really cool when they finally bring some samples back, open up the bottles, and life as we know it ends on this planet.
We're all way too fvckin smart for our own good.
Click to expand...

quick put on your tinfoil hat
Click to expand...
Roger that.

 
W

Wag

Diamond Member
Jul 21, 2000
8,288
8
81
Most likey any life that existed on Mars is long dead (if any existed at all), and even if it still does they will be just harmless microbes.
 
9

91TTZ

Lifer
Jan 31, 2005
14,374
1
0
I love the traces of green all around the edge. Probably a compression artifact though.
 
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