DLR Investigates The Existence Of Liquid Salt Solutions On Mars

DLR Investigates The Existence Of Liquid Salt Solutions On Mars

Is it possible that there are salt solutions on Mars that remain liquid despite the extremely low temperatures - a class of fluids known as cryobrines? Research findings at the German Aerospace Center have shown that this is a theoretical possibility.

Experiments and modelling have indicated that the required conditions exist, especially during the Martian northern summer at higher latitudes. Prof. Diedrich Mohlmann of the DLR Institute of Planetary Research presented these initial findings on Friday 23 July and Saturday 24 July 2010 at the international COSPAR (Committee on Space Research) 2010 conference in Bremen.

"Our research was triggered by the findings of NASA's Phoenix Mars mission," explained Prof. Mohlmann: "In 2009, scientists showed, with images of salt solution droplets on the Phoenix probe, that cryobrines could exist on Mars. Since there is no liquid water on Mars' surface, cryobrines could possibly be a fluid medium that supports life."

Prof. Mohlmann and his team have discovered that it is possible for the liquefaction of cryobrines during the northern summer at high northern latitudes to last all day. At middle latitudes, the phenomenon occurs over several hours during the morning and evening; this is due to the salts absorbing atmospheric humidity to liquefy - a process known to as deliquescence. A higher degree of humidity prevails during the northern summer, which declines further south.