Scientists at the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad have spotted thousands of tracks on the surface of Mars created by tumbling boulders. These boulder tracks can be used to pinpoint recent seismic activity on the planet as humans become more and more interested in the Red Planet with plans to develop colonies in the near future.
The study published last month in Geophysical Research Letters states that it takes about two to four Martian years (four to eight Earth years) for boulder tracks to disappear, whereas on Earth they are rarely preserved. These ejections and tracks can be used to recognise very recent surface processes on planetary surfaces.
The images of tracks left behind by Curiosity and the Perseverance rover on Mars are reminders of
human ingenuity on another planet that has remained untouched for millennia. However, the two
rovers are not the only things leaving their marks on this uninhabitable world, there are natural forces at work as well.
When it comes to geological activity, scientists last year confirmed that the planet’s centre is molten, likely having a similar composition as Earth, which has a molten outer core and a solid inner core. Seismic waves are key to understanding the deep layers of Martian composition. As waves move varying in speed and shape while travelling through different materials inside a planet, they provide seismologists with a way to study the Red Planet’s inner structure.
The new research further adds to the intrigue of geological activity on the Red Planet, making it crucial to understand, as more and more resources are poured towards our planetary neighbour with plans to build a future settlement.
