In a stunning revelation at the 55th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in The Woodlands, Texas, scientists announced the discovery of a massive, deeply eroded volcano and potential buried glacier ice near Mars’ equator. The findings, which point to an exciting new location to study the Red Planet’s geologic history, search for signs of life, and plan future robotic and human exploration missions, were the result of detailed analysis of orbital imagery and data spanning over five decades.
A Volcano Hiding in Plain Sight
The newly identified volcano, provisionally named “Noctis volcano” and located at the boundary of the Noctis Labyrinthus and Valles Marineris regions, had been imaged repeatedly by spacecraft since NASA’s Mariner 9 mission in 1971. However, its heavily eroded state made it difficult to recognize as a distinct volcanic structure.
Noctis volcano measures approximately 450 km (280 miles) in diameter and rises to an elevation of 9,022 meters (29,600 feet), making it comparable in size to the largest volcanoes in the Tharsis region, although more eroded and less tall. The volcano’s immense size and complex modification history suggest a long period of activity, potentially spanning billions of years.
Evidence of Volcanic Activity and Buried Ice
Several key indicators, such as the presence of a central caldera remnant, lava flows, pyroclastic deposits, and hydrated minerals, confirm the volcanic nature of Noctis volcano. The study’s lead author, Dr. Pascal Lee of the SETI Institute and Mars Institute at NASA Ames Research Center, noted that the realization of the structure’s volcanic origin came while examining an area where a relict glacier had been discovered the previous year.
In the volcano’s southeastern region, researchers identified a thin, geologically recent volcanic deposit that likely conceals a layer of glacier ice. This combination of a giant volcano and potentially preserved ice is particularly significant, as it offers a unique opportunity to investigate Mars’ geological evolution, astrobiology, and future exploration potential.
Implications for Mars’ Geologic History and Climate
The presence of hydrated minerals spanning a considerable portion of Martian history in the region surrounding Noctis volcano had long hinted at the possibility of volcanic activity. Co-author Sourabh Shubham, a graduate student at the University of Maryland’s Department of Geology, described the volcano as a “long-sought ‘smoking gun'” that could help explain the origin of these minerals.
Noctis volcano exhibits a complex history of modification, likely resulting from a combination of fracturing, thermal erosion, and glacial erosion. Scientists believe the volcano is composed of layered accumulations of pyroclastic materials, lavas, and ice, with the latter originating from repeated snow and glacier buildup on its flanks over time. As fractures and faults developed, particularly in connection with the uplift of the surrounding Tharsis region, rising magma within the volcano led to thermal erosion, removal of buried ice, and catastrophic collapses of entire sections of the structure.
Mysteries and Potential for Future Exploration
Despite the wealth of information gleaned from this discovery, many questions about Noctis volcano remain unanswered. While it is evident that the volcano has been active for an extended period and experienced relatively recent eruptions, the exact timing of its formation and most recent activity remains unknown. Additionally, the possibility of sustained warmth and water from ice creating habitable conditions for life is an intriguing question that warrants further investigation.
As scientists continue to unravel the mysteries surrounding Noctis volcano, the site is already emerging as a promising location for future robotic and human exploration. The potential presence of shallow glacier ice near the equator is particularly exciting, as it could enable human exploration in a less frigid region of Mars while still providing access to water for consumption and rocket fuel production.
Dr. Lee emphasized the unique combination of factors that make Noctis volcano an exceptionally compelling target for future missions, stating, “It’s an ancient and long-lived volcano so deeply eroded that you could hike, drive, or fly through it to examine, sample, and date different parts of its interior to study Mars’ evolution through time. It has also had a long history of heat interacting with water and ice, which makes it a prime location for astrobiology and our search for signs of life.”
Collaborative Effort and Data Utilization
The groundbreaking discovery of Noctis volcano and its potentially ice-rich surroundings was made possible through the analysis of data from multiple NASA and ESA missions, including Mariner 9, Viking Orbiters 1 and 2, Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Odyssey, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and Mars Express. The study’s authors expressed their appreciation for the instrument teams responsible for acquiring the datasets used in their research, as well as the importance of open-access data visualization tools like NASA’s Planetary Data System, Mars Quickmap, Mars Trek, and Google Mars in facilitating their work.
As the scientific community continues to explore the implications of this remarkable finding, it is clear that the discovery of Noctis volcano and its associated buried glacier ice has opened up new avenues for understanding Mars’ complex geological history, searching for signs of past or present life, and planning future missions to the Red Planet. With each new revelation, we move closer to unraveling the mysteries of our celestial neighbor and paving the way for human exploration beyond Earth.