Valleys on Mars were formed by run-off rainwater, claims new study

New Delhi : While scientists keep exploring the ‘red planet’ a new study claims that the valleys seen on Mars may have been created by run-off rainwater. Scientists are said to have found that the branching angles of the valleys on the red planet are alike those found in infertile landscapes on Earth. The surface of Mars holds the marks of structures that resemble fluvial steam networks on Earth. Scientists therefore assume that there must have been once enough water on the red planet to feed water streams that curved their path into the soil.

For past many years, scientists have been evaluating the source of water that originated in the red planet. A study, published in Science Advances, suggests that the branching structure of the former river networks on Mars has striking similarities with terrestrial arid landscapes. With the help of statistics from all sketched river valleys on Mars, researchers conclude that the curve still visible today must have been created by superficial run-off of rainwater.

Subsequently, the influence of groundwater leakage from the soil can be excluded as a leading method for shaping these features. The distribution of the branching angles of the valleys on Mars is very similar to those found in waterless landscapes on Earth. This implies that there must have been a similar hydrological environment with irregular heavy rainfall events on Mars over a prolonged period of time and that this rainwater may have run off quickly over the surface shaping the valley networks.

For instance, in Arizona researchers observed the same type of valley network patterns in a landscape where scientists are planning for future Mars missions.