For the First Time, Scientists Discover Water Frost on Mars’ Volcanoes
Researchers have discovered water frost for the first time on the summits of giant volcanoes in the tropical region of Mars. Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the solar system, was one of four volcanoes where these icy deposits were identified, challenging expectations about a planet often described as a cold and dry desert.
According to the study published in the journal Nature Geoscience, cameras on probes orbiting Mars observed that frost forms in the early morning inside the volcanic craters of Olympus Mons, Arsia Mons, Ascraeus Mons, and Ceraunius Tholus.
The volcanic craters, which can have diameters of up to 121 kilometers, create a unique local climate that facilitates the formation of this frost. The icy deposits are extremely thin, about one-hundredth of a millimeter, but their vast area translates to a significant amount of water—approximately 150,000 metric tons, equivalent to 60 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
The study highlighted that the research team reviewed nearly 5,000 images captured by the Color and Surface Stereo Imaging System (CaSSIS) from the University of Bern, a high-resolution instrument launched in collaboration with European research agencies.
Additionally, the researchers used two other instruments to validate their observations: the NOMAD spectrometer and the High-Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on the European Space Agency’s Mars Express orbiter, which was launched in 2003.
