Canberra - Recent research sheds light on the enigmatic dichotomy of Mars, a phenomenon that divides the planet into a northern lowland and a southern highland, with the latter rising up to six kilometers higher. This unique feature, first noted in the 1970s, has puzzled scientists for decades, leading to various theories ranging from asteroid impacts to internal geological processes.
A study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters by a team from the Australian National University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences utilized data from NASA's InSight lander. They analyzed seismic waves from Marsquakes and discovered that these waves lose energy more rapidly in the southern highlands compared to the northern plains. The researchers propose that this discrepancy suggests hotter rock beneath the southern region.
“This temperature difference supports the idea that the dichotomy was caused by internal forces rather than an external impact,” the scientists noted. They speculate that Mars may have once had tectonic plates similar to Earth, which could have contributed to the formation of the dichotomy.
The team further explains that the movement of these plates and the molten rock beneath them could have led to the current divide, which was 'frozen' when tectonic activity ceased. They believe that convection patterns in the molten rock may explain the uplift in the southern highlands and the subsidence in the northern lowlands.
Although the study provides significant insights, the researchers emphasize the need for further investigations to fully understand the causes of Mars' dichotomy. “More data on Martian earthquakes and detailed models of Mars' formation, compared with Earth and other planets, are necessary to conclusively address the origins of the dichotomy,” they concluded. Despite the uncertainties, the findings represent a crucial piece of the puzzle in understanding Mars’ geological history.