Sun creates 'hot springs' on Mars: researchers

A multitude of geysers - types of hot springs that erupt periodically - are spewing sand and dust on Mars, according to U.S. researchers.

Scientists from Arizona State University have theorized the geysers after carefully examining images captured with an orbiting camera called the Thermal Emissions Imaging System (THEMIS), located on the Mars Odyssey probe.

The THEMIS images, captured between seasons as the sun heated up the surface, showed progressive dark spots and fans of dark areas spread across the ice in the southern part of the planet. Because of the progressive change the scientists concluded that debris is constantly being spread over the ice, in streams of more than 100 km/h.

The scientists say that the Sun warms up the surface of the planet, causing polar ice caps to break apart and cast materials about 30 metres above the surface.

The carbon dioxide collects underneath the ice until the pressure causes the surface layer to break.

The research report is published in the latest edition of Nature.

Photography: Wikipedia France

Source: Discovery Channel Reports, August 21 edition