‘3.7 billion years in the making’: NASA’s Curiosity finds ripples of a Mars lake
Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Ripple Clues
Ancient wave ripples on Mars suggest long-gone shallow lakes once open to the atmosphere.
Lake Evidence
The ripples, spaced 4–5 cm apart, formed in shallow water less than 2 meters deep.
Warm Atmosphere
Dating back 3.7 billion years, the ripples indicate Mars once had a warm, dense climate.
Credit : NASA
Dual Sites
Two ripple sets were found by NASA’s Curiosity rover in Gale Crater in 2022.
Historic Period
The ripples formed during a time previously thought to mark Mars’s transition to dryness.
Habitability Boost
Claire Mondro of Caltech notes that extended liquid water increases the chance for life.
Model Insights
Michael Lamb used models to analyze the ripples, revealing wind-driven wave formation.
Key Discovery
Published in Science Advances, the study advances Mars paleoclimate understanding.
Long Search
John Grotzinger highlights how this discovery fulfills a goal dating back to 2004 missions.