Apr 25, 2023 03:43 PM
(This post was last modified: Apr 25, 2023 06:36 PM by C C.)
Pioneering research sheds new light on the origins and composition of planet Mars
https://sciencesources.eurekalert.org/ne...ses/986928
INTRO: A new study has uncovered intriguing insights into the liquid core at the centre of Mars, furthering understanding of the planet’s formation and evolution. The research, led by the University of Bristol and published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the US, reveals the first-ever detections of sound waves travelling into the Martian core. Measurements from this acoustic energy, called seismic waves, indicate its liquid core is slightly denser and smaller than previously thought, and comprises a mixture of iron and numerous other elements... (MORE - details)
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Scientists have discovered what's at the core of Mars
https://www.sciencealert.com/in-an-incre...re-of-mars
EXCERPTS: . . . During its relatively short time monitoring the interior of Mars, InSight detected hundreds of marsquakes, giving us detailed information about the Martian interior. From this, scientists were able to compile the first detailed map of the guts of Mars, and learn more about the state of Mars' interior activity. Spoiler: it's not nearly as dead inside as we thought.
[...] As opposed to Earth's core, which seems to be a liquid outer core, a solid inner core, and then an even denser innermost inner core, Mars' core seems to be squishy liquid all the way through. And Mars has a really high proportion of lighter elements mixed in through the inner core. Around a fifth of its weight is made up by these elements, predominantly sulfur, with smaller amounts of oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen.
This means that the core is less dense and more compressible than Earth's core, which could help scientists better understand the differences between the two planets.
We've long known that Mars doesn't have a global magnetic field. On Earth, the magnetic field helps keep the atmosphere and water from leaking into space. Known as the geodynamo, this is produced in Earth's core. Heat moves from the inner core to the outer core, which generates circulating currents that twist into patterns under the influence of the planet's rotation. This creates and maintains the magnetic field.
Previous research in which scientists simulated the Martian core suggested that the presence of lighter elements in Mars' core could have played a significant role in killing its dynamo and magnetic field. Now we have detailed information on what's actually in there so that scientists can reconstruct the history of Mars more accurately... (MORE - missing details)
https://sciencesources.eurekalert.org/ne...ses/986928
INTRO: A new study has uncovered intriguing insights into the liquid core at the centre of Mars, furthering understanding of the planet’s formation and evolution. The research, led by the University of Bristol and published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the US, reveals the first-ever detections of sound waves travelling into the Martian core. Measurements from this acoustic energy, called seismic waves, indicate its liquid core is slightly denser and smaller than previously thought, and comprises a mixture of iron and numerous other elements... (MORE - details)
- - - - - - - -
Scientists have discovered what's at the core of Mars
https://www.sciencealert.com/in-an-incre...re-of-mars
EXCERPTS: . . . During its relatively short time monitoring the interior of Mars, InSight detected hundreds of marsquakes, giving us detailed information about the Martian interior. From this, scientists were able to compile the first detailed map of the guts of Mars, and learn more about the state of Mars' interior activity. Spoiler: it's not nearly as dead inside as we thought.
[...] As opposed to Earth's core, which seems to be a liquid outer core, a solid inner core, and then an even denser innermost inner core, Mars' core seems to be squishy liquid all the way through. And Mars has a really high proportion of lighter elements mixed in through the inner core. Around a fifth of its weight is made up by these elements, predominantly sulfur, with smaller amounts of oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen.
This means that the core is less dense and more compressible than Earth's core, which could help scientists better understand the differences between the two planets.
We've long known that Mars doesn't have a global magnetic field. On Earth, the magnetic field helps keep the atmosphere and water from leaking into space. Known as the geodynamo, this is produced in Earth's core. Heat moves from the inner core to the outer core, which generates circulating currents that twist into patterns under the influence of the planet's rotation. This creates and maintains the magnetic field.
Previous research in which scientists simulated the Martian core suggested that the presence of lighter elements in Mars' core could have played a significant role in killing its dynamo and magnetic field. Now we have detailed information on what's actually in there so that scientists can reconstruct the history of Mars more accurately... (MORE - missing details)