In 1966, a thin layer of carbon dioxide (CO2) was detected in the atmosphere of Mars by the Mariner IV, a NASA fly-by spacecraft. Researchers from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) theorised at the time that Co2 levels in the atmosphere vary depending on the seasonal changes of Mars.<\/p>\n
The scientists believed that as one of the poles faced the Sun, the polar deposit of CO2 ice would melt, leading to more CO2 in the atmosphere.<\/p>\n
This would ultimately alter the atmospheric pressure of Mars and have major implications for the Red Planets climate, which has a surface pressure of just 0.6 percent that of Earths.<\/p>\n
Scientists Robert B Leighton and planetary scientist Bruce C Murray, believed at the time atmospheric pressure could swing from just one-quarter that of todays Martian atmosphere to twice that of today over cycles of tens of thousands of years.<\/p>\n
Now, a new model run by current Caltech experts has proved the 54 year theory to be true, which supports the theory that Mars once had free-flowing water.<\/p>\n
The team state that as the CO2 packed ice melted in the past, it allowed more surface pressure to build, which suited for a better environment on Mars.<\/p>\n
In theory, the CO2 packed ice deposit should not be possible, because water ice is more thermally stable and darker than CO2 ice; CO2 ice, scientists long believed, would quickly destabilise if it was buried underneath water ice.<\/p>\n
A statement from Caltech said: The new model by Buhler and colleagues shows that the deposit could have evolved as a result of the combination of three factors.<\/p>\n
These are:<\/p>\n
1) the changing obliquity (or tilt) of the planets rotation.<\/p>\n
2) the difference in the way water ice and CO2 ice reflect sunlight.<\/p>\n
3) the increase in atmospheric pressure that occurs when CO2 ice sublimes.<\/p>\n
READ MORE:Stunning statement reveals agency's breakthrough space travel scheme<\/p>\n
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Mars mystery solved: Experts find supporting evidence of free flowing water on Mars - Express.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In 1966, a thin layer of carbon dioxide (CO2) was detected in the atmosphere of Mars by the Mariner IV, a NASA fly-by spacecraft. Researchers from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) theorised at the time that Co2 levels in the atmosphere vary depending on the seasonal changes of Mars Continue reading