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LIFE ON MARS
EVIDENCE OF WATER, AND SPECULATION ON MICROBIAL LIFE

Jason Strittmatter
250243767
April 7th, 2006
Earth Science 086E
Word Count 1185

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction
1.1 Water Based Life on Mars
1.2 Fossil Evidence
1.3 Report Outline

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pg. 3

2. Evidence of Water
2.1 Mars Global Surveyor
2.2 Sojourner
2.3 2001 Mars Odyssey
2.4 Mars Express Orbiter
2.5 The Mars Exploration Rovers

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3. Critics
3.1 Alternative Explanations

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4. Microbial Life
4.1 Extremophiles

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5. Conclusions
5.1 Discussion and Conclusions

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6. References

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9. Illustrations
Figure 1.1 Giovanni Schiaparellis Map of canali
Figure 1.2 Fossilized Bacteria in ALH84001
Figure 2.1 Martian Gullies
Figure 2.2 Sojourner Micro-rover
Figure 2.3 Hydrogen Levels Detected by Odyssey
Figure 2.4 Water in Mars Rover Tracks
Figure 2.5 Martian Blueberries
Figure 2.6 Mssbauer Spectrometer Readings of El Capitan
Figure 2.7 Mssbauer Spectrometer Readings of Clovis 2001
Figure 3.1 Endurance Crater
Figure 4.1 Mediterranean Microbes
Figure 5.1 History of Water on Mars

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1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Water-based Life on Mars

The visible surface features on Mars have long captured the imagination of
humanity, leading to speculation about life there. As water is deemed an essential
condition for life on Mars, its discovery has been much sought after. Though Giovanni
Shiaparellis canals (Figure 1.1) proved to be an optical illusion, growing proof of water
on Mars has many scientists believing in the possibility of past or present Martian cellular
organisms.2
1.2 Fossil Evidence
In 1984, a meteorite named ALH84001was found in Allen Hills, Antarctica. In
1994, the composition of this meteorite led scientists to re-type it as Martian in origin. In
1996, NASA scientists found fossilized micro-organisms in ALH84001 (Figure 1.2),

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inciting the debate on the existence of
life on Mars.3 The debate continues as
critics stated the micro-organisms were
not necessarily Martian in origin, but
possibly biofilm contaminants from
Earth, no explanation for how they
would do so has arose (52).4
1.3 Report Outline
Proof of water has been found on
Mars. Water is deemed an essential
precondition for life, and organisms have
been known to thrive in extreme
conditions. Therefore, life has or might
still exist on Mars.

2. EVIDENCE OF WATER
2.1 Mars Global Surveyor
Launched in 1996, Surveyors
Mars Orbital Camera (MOC) captured
images of various gullies in craters and
canyons with wide deposits of ferric
oxidea chemical that forms in standing water, which resemble gullies caused by water
flows above or below the surface on Earth, and are believed to be less than a million
years ago (Figure 2.1).6 In addition to this, Surveyor also detected large ripples across

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Mars Athabasca Vallis similar to those caused by catastrophic floods on Earth,7 and
sediment layers in equatorial regions believed to have been caused by water flows.8
2.2 Sojourner
The Mars Pathfinder was launched in 1996. Its micro-rover, Sojourner (Figure
2.2) discovered small, round pebbles resembling water-formed Earth-rocks called
conglomerates on the Martian surface.6

2.3 2001 Mars Odyssey

Designed specifically to search for evidence of water and volcanic activity on
Mars, the 2001 Mars Odyssey analyzed the chemical and mineral elements of the Martian
surface and discovered vast amounts of sub-surface water ice in the polar regions (Figure
2.3).7

2.4 Mars Express Orbiter

Launched in 2003, the Mars Express has detected methane, ammonia, and
formaldehyde in the Martian atmosphere. As methane would only survive a few hundred
years in the Martian atmosphere due to oxidization,11 ammonia only a few hours, and
formaldehyde only 7.5 hours,12 and each could be biologically produced, their presence
may be proof of primitive life on Mars.13 As ammonia is a compound of hydrogen and
nitrogen, and nitrogen is essential for terrestrial life, microbes may be hoarding it. As
formaldehyde is oxidized methane, the volume of methane production would have to be
vast (tonnes each year) to account for this amount of formaldehyde, leading many to
believe it is produced by a vast colony of microbial life.12
2.5 The Mars Exploration Rovers
Spirit and Opportunity, the Mars Exploration Rovers, landed on Mars in 2004.
Spirit landed at Gusev Crater, and Opportunity at Meridiani Planum. Both rovers were to

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examine geological evidence that Mars had once been wet with standing or flowing
water. 6 The rovers detected puddles in their tracks, which quickly froze. This spurred
speculation that the liquid was a salt-water brine mixture that keeps it from freezing
below the surface, but freezes when exposed to the atmosphere (Figure 2.4).14

Meridiani Planum, the landing site of Opportunity, provided evidence for water
on Mars. The presence of the small spherical stones, dubbed blueberries, which dot the
area could be formed by accumulation of mineral solution exiting porous water-soaked
rocks (Figure 2.5).14 The presence of pock marks in the stone resemble vugs on Earth
made by saltine crystal deposits in rocks that are submerged in briny water, which
dissolve or erode due to moving water.17 Opportunity has found sedimentary deposits
congruent to beach and river deposits on Earth called cross-beds, which are layers of rock
that aberrate from the angle of the main layers. Cross-bedding would indicate the
direction or force of water flows.14

The composition of Mars surface features, especially the presence of sulphates

arranged in layers in the exposed bedrock of Meridiani Planum, give further credence to
the past presence of water on Mars When inspected with the rovers Mssbauer
spectrometer, the bedrock showed signs of high levels of the hydrated iron sulphur
mineral, jarosite (Figure 2.6).6 Other minerals that form in water such as hematite,14
sulphur, and other elements that can form chloride and bromide salts have also been
detected. As rock formations with such high concentrations of salt would be the result of
long exposures to water, it would seem that Mars had at one time an acidic lake or acidic
hot springs.17

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Spirit also found similar
evidence of past water on the other
side of Mars. In analyzing a rock
called Clovis in the Columbus
Hills with its Mssbauer
spectrometer, Spirt detected ironand water-bearing minerals such as
goethite (Figure 2.7).19

3. CRITICS
3.1 Alternative Explanations
Some scientists believe the rock features on Mars were a result of meteor impact,
volcanism, dry collapse, or wind erosion. The discovery of identical gullies on Moon has
led scientists to believe micrometeorites caused small avalanches to create these
features.20 The surrounding features of canyons, such as lack contributory conduits
leading into the canyon, and box-headed tributaries, suggest formation by collapse.21
The crossbedding could have
been produced by
wind erosion14 or
volcanic ash altered
by volcanic gas,
rather than water
(Figure 3.1).23 The

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presence of methane was thought to indicate the presence of subsurface reservoirs that
gave a slow release, or supplied by a colliding comet.12 The blueberries are argued by
some too spherical to be formed by water, so must be caused spewing volcanic activity or
by meteor impact ejecta, which would also account for the chemical deposits on Mars
surface.23 However, Opportunity's observations that the spherules are not concentrated at
particular layers in the outcrop weigh against a volcanic or impact origin, but do not
completely rule out those origins.17 Other scientists theorize that an impact could have
melted ice and caused flooding, which would account for some of the water features, but
would discount long-standing bodies of surface water.23

4. MICROBIAL LIFE
4.1 Extremophiles
In even the most extreme conditions on Earth,
life thrives. Extremophilic microbes thrive in hostile
near-boiling, sub-zero, radiation ridden, acidic, highly
saltine, or benzene saturated environments. The
resilience of microbial life on Earth suggests that such
life could survive even the harsh conditions on Mars
today.24

5. DISCUSSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS

5.1 Discussions and Conclusions
The sheer weight of the evidence in favour of water, in addition weak or
incomplete explanations to discount it show that water did exist on Mars surface (Figure
5.1), and does still below the surface. However, though water is considered a crucial

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ingredient for life, it does not guarantee it. However, further exploration may lead to the
discovery of life that may not need water to survive. Finding life on Mars is inevitable.
The question iswhat form will it take?

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6. REFERENCES

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Martian Canals http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martian_canals.

Life on Mars http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_on_Mars.

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Mars Meteorites ALH 84001 http://calspace.ucsd.edu/marsnow/library/science/mars_meteorites1.html.

ALH84001 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ALH84001.

Mars Global Surveyor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Global_Surveyor.

Demystifying Mars http://www.nasa.gov/missions/highlights/demystifying_mars_1.html.

Acidalia Planitia http://themis.la.asu.edu/zoom-20020725a.html.

Valley and "fan" material in Aeolis http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/waterfeatures/E01-00870psub.html.

Mars Pathfinder http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sojourner.

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Water on Mars http://www.lanl.gov/news/photos/mars.shtml.

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Mars Express cponfirms methane in the Martian atmosphere

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMZ0B57ESD_index_0.html.

12

Formaldehyde claim inflames martian debate

http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050221/full/050221-15.html.

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Exclusive: NASA Researchers Claim Evidence of Present Life on Mars

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/mars_life_050216.html.

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Mars: A Water World? Evidence Mounts, But Scientists Remain Tight-Lipped:

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/opportunity_evidence_040229.html.

15

Life on Mars Likely, Scientists Claim

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/mars_microorganisms_040803.html.

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Martian blueberries http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/02/20/1077072823183.html.

17

Opportunity Rover Finds Stong Evidence Meridiani Planum Was Wet

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/20040302a.html.

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Water Once Filled Mars Opportunity Rover Landing Site

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/opportunity_news_040302.html.

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Instruments: Mssbauer Spectrometer http://www.athena.cornell.edu/the_mission/ins_moss.html.

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Water May Not Have Formed Mars' Recent Gullies

http://uanews.org/cgi-bin/WebObjects/UANews.woa/1/wa/SRStoryDetails?ArticleID=12376.

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Nanedi Vallis http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/waterfeatures/PIA01170.html.

22

Opportunity Rover http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opportunity_rover.

23

New Studies Question Mars Water Assumptions

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/051221_mars_dry.html.

24

Wild Things: The Most Extreme Creatures

http://www.livescience.com/animalworld/050207_extremophiles.html.