Distribution Characteristics and Research Progress of Water-Ice on Mars
Mars,as a planet in the solar system similar to Earth,once had a history of active water activities.However,its current thin atmosphere and cold,arid climate make it difficult for liquid water to exist on the Martian surface.Water on modern Mars is mostly present in the form of ice at the polar regions and mid-latitude areas,forming various types of depositional landforms.With the growing number of deep space exploration missions,the water-ice environment and habitability of Mars have attracted more attention.In this article it focuses on polar ice caps,glacial landforms in mid-latitudes and sublimation landforms of shallow subsurface water-ice in mid-latitudes.It introduces and analyzes their morphological characteristics,distribution,formation mechanisms,and their coupling with the climate.The formation of mid-latitude water-ice landforms on Mars is,due to the migration of polar water-ice to the mid-latitude surface when Mars is at a high obliquity,transitioning to a cold glacial period in those regions.Conversely,this leads to an expansion of polar ice cap regions.Thus,the periodic changes in Martian obliquity have driven climate variations and the subsequent redistribution of water-ice on the Martian surface,characterized by a cyclic enrichment from polar to mid-high latitude regions.By summarizing the distribution characteristics of water-ice on Mars,our understanding of the Martian water-ice environment is improved.Also,several prospects on the future research directions are provided based on the current research status of Martian water-ice.The Martian water-ice landforms are closely linked to the habitable environment and potential forms of life on Mars.Studying water-ice on Mars can help us gain insights into Martian climate evolution history,habitability conditions,and provide support for future Mars exploration missions.
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