Rivers on Mars more recently than thought, and twice as wide as that on earth

Science Mars today is cold and dry, with a thin atmosphere. But ever - and less long ago than expected - flocked large, wild rivers on the red planet. They were double as wide as the rivers on earth, was discovered by researchers from the university of Chicago.

The conclusions do not make it easier for researchers that Mars’ drastic transition from the wet to the dry period study. That would be until later in the history of the planet have lasted than until now thought. With other words: there was less long ago than thought water on Mars, until the very last moment of the wet period. Between 3.6 and 1 billion years ago flowed daily 3 to 20 kg of water per square meter by the river on the entire planet spread. The new study estimates it is now at 1 billion years ago, and even later. Or: at least 1 billion years later than previous calculations.

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Edwin Kite and his team examined more than 200 old, long-dried-up riverbeds on Mars, using photos taken by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), which is around the planet, circling. The deep gullies on the photos contain information about the water that once flooded, and about the climatic conditions in which that happened. The size of the beds indicates a continuous rather than on a temporary flow of water only in the afternoon.