Research by NIU Geography Professor Supports Martian Ocean Hypothesis

A recent study by NIU Geographer Wei Luo and Tomasz Stepinski (Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, TX) uses an innovative computer program to produce a more detailed global map of the valley networks on Mars based on topographic data. The findings, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research Planets (Luo and Stepinski, 2009), suggest that Martian networks are more than twice as extensive (2.3 times longer in total length) as had been previously depicted.

Mars valley network

Further, regions that are most densely dissected by the valley networks roughly form a belt around the planet between the equator and mid-southern latitudes, consistent with a past climate scenario that included precipitation and the presence of an ocean covering a large portion of Mars’ northern hemisphere. Scientists have previously hypothesized that a single ocean existed on ancient Mars, but the issue has been hotly debated. Luo states, “all the evidence gathered by analyzing the valley network on the new map points to a particular climate scenario on early Mars that would have included rainfall and the existence of an ocean covering most of the northern hemisphere, or about one-third of the planet’s surface.”

Mars ocean

The research was funded in part by NASA's Mars Data Analysis Program. Together with Stepinski, Luo developed a global GIS database of drainage patterns on Mars. The database takes advantage of significant advances in machine cartography and consists of high resolution maps of Martian topography. The GIS database is a significant update to the only available global map of valley networks that was constructed in 1990s using Viking-era images. The Martian maps and a conversation with Dr. Luo is available via NIU's YouTube page.