NASAs InSight Mars lander may have discovered active volcanoes on the red planet – Times Now

Recent volcanic activity spotted by NASA on Mars 

The latest observations show proof of volcanic eruptions in the past 50,000 years on the planet. That seems like a lot but its a short period if you look at the big picture and the age of planets. The earliest recorded human appearance was seen about 300,000 years ago, which is 98.8% of the time after the Big Bang so the volcanic eruptions on Mars have happened for less than 20% of the time since humans first appeared on Earth.

The earliest records of volcanic activity on Mars can be seen as far as four billion years ago but that activity seems to be spaced out, unlike the latest findings. Smaller eruptions were recorded as far as 4 million years ago too. Until now, there was almost no evidence to suggest that volcanic, as well as other geological activity, has continued since then.

Elysium Planitia, a plain on the equator of Mars, has been recorded to show fissure-fed streams of lava that range from 500 million to 2.5 million years old. The newer geological activity has been noticed south of this location with several major volcanoes showing signs of recent activity. Debris from eruptions has been seen in a 32 kilometre or 20-mile radius.

The debris was found to be caused due to pyroclastic flow which is caused by massive pressure under the surface. One of the most popular cases of this force on Earth is what happened to the city of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Mars has shown several instances of such events over 3 billion years ago around Olympus Mons, which is the largest mountain in our Solar system and stood taller than all other Martian volcanoes. Water, melted from permafrost on the surface mixing with the magma oozing out can cause an explosive change in pressure and result in such an effect. Water and magma can cause an extremely volatile reaction similar to pouring an accelerant on a fire. The force is so powerful that debris was thrown 10 kilometres into the air.

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NASAs InSight Mars lander may have discovered active volcanoes on the red planet - Times Now