Evidence that supports the idea that oceans once covered about a third of ancient Mars, Uncovered by an international team of scientists

This 3D map superimposes gamma-ray data from Mars Odyssey's Gamma-Ray Spectrometer onto topographic data from the laser altimeter onboard the Mars Global Surveyor. The red arrow indicates the shield volcanoes of Elysium rise in northern Mars, seen obliquely to the southeast. Blue-to-violet colors at the Elysium rise and highlands stretching to the foreground of the map mark areas poor in potassium. Red-to-yellow colors mark potassium-rich sedimentary deposits in lowlands below the Mars Pathfinder landing site (PF) and Viking 1 landing site (V1). (Click to enlarge)
This top illustration shows the location of theTharsis volcanic region and Valles Marineris in the context of the hypothesized larger, ancient ocean and smaller, more recent ocean in Mars' northern lowland planes. Victor Baker and others from The University of Arizona have long argued that Tharsis volcanism unleashed great floods that carved large outflow channels and deposited sediment carried from the southern cratered highlands to the northern lowland plains, where water formed lakes and oceans and changed climate for thousands of years. The lower part of the illustration explains the mechanism. (Click to enlarge)
Source: University of Arizona
Gamma-Ray Evidence Suggests Ancient Mars Had Oceans
Further information: www.arizona.edu

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