A new study sheds light on one of the most mysterious phenomena in space: the possible presence of buried ice near the equator of Mars — a region that should theoretically be extremely dry. According to researchers, the answer may lie in ancient, powerful volcanic eruptions that occurred billions of years ago.
The Enigma of Ice at the Martian Equator
Previous research has found that the surface of Mars is rich in ice. Most of these deposits are located at its poles, just as they are on Earth. However, the Mars Odyssey and ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter have detected unusual levels of hydrogen in areas around Mars' equator — a clue that suggests the possible presence of ice beneath the surface.
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The existence of ice so close to the equator has scientists puzzled, since temperatures there are much higher than those in the polar regions. The only way this ice could survive for so long would be if it was buried under a protective layer of dust or volcanic deposits, which acts as a natural "insulating blanket."
The volcanic explanation
Saira Hamid from Arizona State University and her team tried to solve the mystery, using computational climate models to simulate the powerful volcanic eruptions that took place on Mars between 4.1 and 3 billion years ago.
The results show that these explosions released huge amounts of water vapor into the upper atmosphere, which froze and returned to the surface as ice.
Just one three-day volcanic eruption could, according to models, create ice deposits up to five meters thick around a volcano. Therefore, repeated eruptions, over the years, could have covered low latitudes with layers of ice and ash.
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Ice, ash and hydrogen
This theory could explain the hydrogen signatures detected in the data today. The ash that accompanied the ice likely acted as a protective blanket, allowing the ice to remain stable for hundreds of millions of years.
However, Hamid points out that hydrogen could also come from water-containing minerals, such as hydroxides or salts. That's why the next phase of the research will focus on searching for optical or spectral signs of ice beneath layers of ash, through future missions or more sophisticated sensors.
Evidence of a "habitable" past
Volcanic eruptions on ancient Mars didn't just produce ice. According to the study, they also released sulfuric acid and other gases that formed aerosols in the atmosphere, reflecting solar radiation and causing cooling periods.
This "global winter" could have allowed the ice to remain stable for even longer periods. At the same time, the heat and chemicals from the eruptions may have created temporary habitable environments – small "oases" with liquid water and suitable chemical conditions for microbial life.
See also: NASA discovered billion-year-old "coral" on Mars
A tool for future exploration
If the existence of ice beneath the Martian equator is confirmed, the implications are enormous, especially for future human presence on the planet. These pockets could be valuable sources of water for missions, both for consumption and for the production of oxygen or fuel.
Hamid suggests that old volcanic zones should be considered high-priority targets for exploration by robotic or manned missions, as they combine geological interest and potential resource sources.
The next day of the investigation
The study, published Oct. 14 in the journal Communications Nature , opens a new path to understanding the climate and geological history of Mars . If predictions are confirmed, the ice beneath the equator would be a window into the planet's past — evidence that volcanic eruptions shaped not only the landscape but also the conditions that may once have supported life.
On a planet that today seems arid and frozen, the idea that its most violent eruptions may have been the ones that seeded water and lifeoffers a paradoxical but exciting prospect for the future of Mars exploration.
