Layered subsurface in Utopia Basin of Mars revealed by Zhurong rover radar

Chao Li, Yikang Zheng, Xin Wang, Jinhai Zhang, Yibo Wang, Ling Chen (), Lei Zhang, Pan Zhao, Yike Liu, Wenmin Lv, Yang Liu, Xu Zhao, Jinlai Hao, Weijia Sun, Xiaofeng Liu, Bojun Jia, Juan Li, Haiqiang Lan, Wenzhe Fa, Yongxin Pan and Fuyuan Wu
Additional contact information
Chao Li: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yikang Zheng: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xin Wang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jinhai Zhang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yibo Wang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Ling Chen: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
Lei Zhang: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Pan Zhao: Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yike Liu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Wenmin Lv: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Yang Liu: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xu Zhao: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Jinlai Hao: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Weijia Sun: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Xiaofeng Liu: Peking University
Bojun Jia: Peking University
Juan Li: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Haiqiang Lan: Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Wenzhe Fa: Peking University
Yongxin Pan: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Fuyuan Wu: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences

Nature, 2022, vol. 610, issue 7931, 308-312

Abstract: Abstract Exploring the subsurface structure and stratification of Mars advances our understanding of Martian geology, hydrological evolution and palaeoclimatic changes, and has been a main task for past and continuing Mars exploration missions1–10. Utopia Planitia, the smooth plains of volcanic and sedimentary strata that infilled the Utopia impact crater, has been a prime target for such exploration as it is inferred to have hosted an ancient ocean on Mars11–13. However, 45 years have passed since Viking-2 provided ground-based detection results. Here we report an in situ ground-penetrating radar survey of Martian subsurface structure in a southern marginal area of Utopia Planitia conducted by the Zhurong rover of the Tianwen-1 mission. A detailed subsurface image profile is constructed along the roughly 1,171 m traverse of the rover, showing an approximately 70-m-thick, multi-layered structure below a less than 10-m-thick regolith. Although alternative models deserve further scrutiny, the new radar image suggests the occurrence of episodic hydraulic flooding sedimentation that is interpreted to represent the basin infilling of Utopia Planitia during the Late Hesperian to Amazonian. While no direct evidence for the existence of liquid water was found within the radar detection depth range, we cannot rule out the presence of saline ice in the subsurface of the landing area.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05147-5

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