'Marsquake', How Earthquakes On Mars Could Sustain Alien Life (PICTURES)

Mars Earthquake

Huffington Post UK   First Posted: 24/02/2012 10:14 Updated: 24/02/2012 10:41

Recent earthquakes on Mars point at the existence of active volcanoes and liquid reservoirs that could sustain life on the Red Planet.

A recent quake with a magnitude of 7 is thought to have occurred after scientists analysed tracks made by boulders that toppled from a Martian cliff.

The paths of the rocks, which ranged from 6.5 to 65 feet in diameter, were captured by Nasa’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and were analysed by a University of London team.

Lead author Gerald Roberts told space.com the dirt patterns were inconsistent with how they would scatter if they were deposited by melting ice.

Instead, the boulder falls had created patterns that resembled the deadly earthquake near L’Aquila, Italy, in 2009.

That the tracks have not yet been erased by Martian winds also indicate the movement is recent.

The activity on the Red Planet has been detected on faults in the Cerberus Fossae region, close to the Elysium Mons volcano. It follows that the quakes are likely to be driven by subterranean volcanism.

“It is this link between life, volcanism and active faulting that makes the boulder data we have collected so intriguing,” Roberts said in a press release.

The study, which will appear in the Journal of Geophysical Research, Planets, on March 1, suggests that if active volcanoes do exist on Mars, their heat could melt subterranean ice, providing moist habitats hospitable to life.

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Recent earthquakes on Mars point at the existence of active volcanoes and liquid reservoirs that could sustain life on the Red Planet. A recent quake with a magnitude of 7 is thought to have occur...
Recent earthquakes on Mars point at the existence of active volcanoes and liquid reservoirs that could sustain life on the Red Planet. A recent quake with a magnitude of 7 is thought to have occur...
 
 
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Djay0252
America needs to Bless God
11:28 PM on 02/28/2012
I thought there were no plate tectonics on Mars.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Ramkshrestha
Welcome to Nepal - the birthplace of Buddha
12:02 AM on 02/25/2012
But there will not be any live loss
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
WorkhelpWorkhelp
Control your money locally. Charter banks now.
10:25 AM on 02/25/2012
Only dead loss?
02:36 PM on 02/24/2012
predictive programming
02:22 PM on 02/24/2012
As Mars has had a frozen and soid core for a few BILLION YEARS, they must have 'bought' this fantasy earthquake on Ebay
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Barbara Longstaff
01:28 PM on 02/24/2012
Lets hope if there is life on Mars they are a dam sight more tolerant that we on earth are.
11:22 AM on 02/24/2012
Rolling Stones on Mars! I was wondering where their next tour was going to be. If these scientists look hard enough I'm sure they'll find Elvis too.
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WorkhelpWorkhelp
Control your money locally. Charter banks now.
10:26 AM on 02/25/2012
"ThankYouVeryMush."