A team of scientists recreated ancient Martian conditions in a laboratory Mars simulation chamber and ran dozens of experiments. They mixed water and sediment and changed pressure and temperature to see how flows behaved.
The results show that when the atmosphere was thicker, water and mud acted in ways similar to Earth. After Mars lost atmosphere following the Noachian, flows were controlled more by freezing and boiling and made different deposits. The researchers warn that Earth analogs are not always reliable. Comparing lab shapes with satellite and rover observations can help date past climates and improve landscape interpretations.
Difficult words
- simulation — a copy of real conditions used for tests
- sediment — small pieces of rock and soil in water
- atmosphere — the layer of gases around a planet
- deposit — material left by water or wind or icedeposits
- analog — a similar thing used to compare resultsanalogs
- rover — a vehicle that explores a planet's surface
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Discussion questions
- Why are Earth analogs not always reliable for Mars studies?
- How can comparing lab shapes with satellite and rover observations help scientists?
- Would you like to work in a lab that recreates other planets? Why or why not?
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