From a gully to a trickle, water may flow on Mars

Nov 21, 2000

MARS - New pictures from NASA's Mars Global Surveyor, MGS, have scientists talking excitedly about – water. But that's because the water may be on the surface of the Red Planet. The images, taken from space show new evidence of gullies on the surface of Mars that may have been carved by the passage of streams.

The idea of water on Mars isn't new, just the most recent pictures.

Earlier this year, scientists at the U.S. space agency and the people who operate MGS caused a sensation. They released photos they said indicated water may have flowed recently on Mars - recent meaning in the last two million years.

The new pictures add to a growing body of evidence gathered by the MGS which suggests water could exist in a porous layer of rock buried just below the Martian surface.

The pictures, taken November 10, are of the 136 kilometre-wide Hale crater in the planet's southern hemisphere. They show channels in the peaks of sand dunes within the crater. It's these channels NASA scientists believe may have been carved by running water.

Some scientists think if water is to be found, it will be in the planet's southern hemisphere, in the cooler areas away from the sunlight.

Since water is one of the key ingredients for supporting life, its presence on Mars, if confirmed, could have far-reaching implications for the search for microbial extra-terrestrial life.