Massive deep deposits of ice found on Mars. Possibilities of Life?

Massive, deep deposits of ice found on Mars

Researchers studying the eroded edges of ridges on Mars have found that substantial deposits of water ice exist just a few feet below martian surface, reaching over 300 feet thick in some areas.



The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter captured this astonishing image showing an avalanche of dusty snow racing down the weakened side of an eroded slope on Mars. In this image, the snow is made up of dry ice (frozen carbon dioxide); however, researchers recently found similar slopes elsewhere on Mars with massive deposits of pure water ice.


Despite the fact that Mars has an atmosphere just 1% as dense as Earth’s, the surface of the Red Planet still has to deal with plenty of weathering and erosion. In 2008, researchers even captured a full-scale avalanche on Mars as it plunged down a 2,300-foot slope into a valley. These types of geological events often expose the structures beneath the martian surface, revealing layers of rock, dry ice, and even water ice.