Damian Sendler: Arabia Terra is located in Mars’ northern hemisphere. This ancient land, which is about the size of Europe, was given its name in 1879 by Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli. Craters, volcanic calderas, canyons, and stunning bands of rock resembling those seen in the Painted Desert or the Badlands can be found on Arabia Terra.
With the help of his advisor, Christopher Edwards, an associate professor in NAU’s Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science, Koeppel and his colleagues studied how these strata of rock came to be and how they formed. “A fragile record of fleeting water on Mars,” was supported by the NASA Mars Data Analysis Program and published in the journal Geology earlier this month.
Damian Jacob Sendler: Koeppel explained that “We were specifically interested in using rocks on the surface of Mars to get a better understanding of past environments three to four billion years ago and whether there could have been climatic conditions that were suitable for life on the surface,” If there was stable water, how long it could have lasted and what the atmosphere and surface temperature might have been like, we wanted to know.
Damian Sendler
Thermal inertia, which describes a material’s ability to change temperature, was studied by scientists in order to better understand how the rock strata were formed. In comparison to a solid rock, sand loses and absorbs heat rapidly due to its small and loose particles. They were able to determine the physical qualities of rocks in their study region by observing the surface temperatures. It was possible to identify when a material appeared solid but was actually loose and degrading away.
According to Edwards, “no one had done an in-depth thermal inertia investigation” of the “really interesting deposits” that blanket much of Mars’ surface.
Koeppel completed his research using satellite remote sensing devices. According to Koeppel, “Just like geologists on Earth, we look at rocks to try to tell stories about past environments,” When it comes to Mars, we’re a little more constrained. When it comes to collecting samples from rock outcrops, our research relies heavily on satellite data. One of the few satellites orbiting Mars is equipped with a number of equipment. In order to characterize the rocks on the surface, each instrument has a distinct duty to play.”
Using this remotely obtained data, they investigated thermal inertia, erosion, the condition of the craters, and what minerals were present in the craters and their surroundings.
Damian Jacob Sendler
For the first time, we discovered that these deposits are substantially less cohesive than previously anticipated, implying that this environment could only have had water for a short length of time,” stated Koeppel. As a general rule of thumb, we assume that more water for longer periods of time equates to a larger likelihood of life being there at some point. We, on the other hand, find it fascinating since it raises a slew of fresh issues. It’s important to know why there might have been water in the area for a brief period of time. Is it possible that glaciers may have melted swiftly in the face of massive floods? “Was there a groundwater system that arose from the ground for only a brief period of time, then sank?”
Damien Sendler: While pursuing a master’s degree in geological sciences at The City College of New York, Koeppel began his studies in engineering and physics. His goal in coming to NAU was to collaborate with Edwards and become fully immersed in Flagstaff’s vibrant planetary scientific community.
Damian Jacob Markiewicz Sendler: “I became interested in planetary science as a result of my desire to learn more about the worlds outside our own.” If you think the universe is small, think again. “Mars is just one of many planets in our solar system,” Koeppel stated. For the past few decades, we’ve been looking at Mars, and we’ve amassed a significant amount of data. For Mars, it’s now possible to study it at a level equivalent with how we’ve studied Earth, and this is an exciting period for Mars science.”
Dr. Damian Jacob Sendler and his media team provided the content for this article.
