An Ancient Ocean on Mars?

Mars (File Photo – Caltech)

Caltech researchers have uncovered geological clues that strengthen the case for a vast ocean that may once have covered a third of Mars’s northern hemisphere.

By News Desk

The study, led by former Caltech postdoctoral scholar Abdallah Zaki and geology professor Michael Lamb, identifies a broad, flat “bathtub ring”–like landform on Mars—similar to Earth’s continental shelf, a feature created only by long‑standing oceans.

Using computer models to “drain” Earth’s oceans and isolate the most durable coastal features, the team found that continental shelves remain as wide, stable bands of land. When they examined Martian topography, they discovered an analogous band encircling the northern lowlands, suggesting a long‑lived ocean that persisted for millions of years.

The researchers also noted that ancient river deltas on Mars align with this shelf, reinforcing the idea of a stable coastline.

If confirmed, these coastal deposits could become prime targets for future missions searching for signs of past life, much like how Earth’s coastal sediments preserve fossil records.

Read the full piece written up by Lori Dajose for Caltech at this link.