The Mars surface is a hostile and dry environment, having little atmosphere with no stagnant water. The new research tells that this has not always been the case. Mars has faced many rains that actually shaped the landscape. If in the past era any alien life had existed, it would likely need some sort of protection, maybe even umbrellas, to tolerate the downpour. This study was published in Nature Geoscience, and it reviewed the crater erosion patterns on the planet.

Heavy Rains and a Thicker Atmosphere: Rethinking Mars’ Climate History

As per the Royal Astronomical Society, it was concluded that the Martian atmosphere during that time was thick enough to bear heavy rains. Researchers used the satellite data and erosion modelling to determine how much water flowed across the Martian surface. They found that the precipitation level must have been somewhere similar to the tropical region of the Earth at present. This signals that Mars once had the potential to hold surface water in rivers; in fact, there is a possibility it even had lakes.

Could Mars Have Supported Life? What New Evidence Suggests

However, only rain could not signify the possibilities of life sustenance. These constant downpours led to erosion, and it became a driving force in the change of the shape of Mars’ landscape. This tells us that if there is any primitive life existed in the past, it would have adapted to the climate and terrain of Mars.

The findings derived from the observation challenge the old assumptions about Mars of being dry and cold. In fact, they support the opinion that early Mars had a wet and warm climate, which is suitable for microbial life. Further, it adds excitement to the current missions named NASA’s Perseverance rover, which is active in the search for fossilised signs of past life on Mars.

This research not just redefines Mars’ past era climate, but also widens the scope of what early life could look like on other planets. It also tells us that the extraterrestrial life search is not just limited to Earth but also to the planets that had the possibility of life in the past.