Scientists have revealed that the recently observed reflective spots at the south pole of Mars may not be a sign of liquid water as they had expected. The astronomers detected remarkably bright reflections under the formation of pure water ice 1.4 km thick by the European Space Agency’s Mars orbiter, Mars Orbiter.
But computer simulations created by a team at Cornell University indicate that another phenomenon, the overlapping of geological layers on the Red Planet, may be the real cause of these reversals.
The scientists found that three layers, consisting of two layers of carbon dioxide separated by a single layer of ice, can produce reflections like those seen on the surface of the planet. According to “Russia Today”.
“On Earth, bright reflections are often an indicator of liquid water, even in buried lakes like Lake Vostok[belowthesurfaceoftheEastAntarcticicesheetwhichwasunder3kilometersoficeformillionsofyears)ButonMarstheprevailingviewwasthatitwastoocoldtoformsuchlakes”