The analysis confirms that these streaks are formed by briny or salty water flowing downhill on Mars.
But something has happened to Mars, it lost its water.
Thats a direct detection of water in the form of hydration of salts, Dr. McEwen said.
There pretty much has to have been liquid water recently present to produce the hydrated salt.
By recently, Dr. McEwen said he meant days, something of that order.
Scientists have long known that large amounts of water remain but frozen solid in the polar ice caps.
There have been fleeting hints of recent liquid water, like fresh-looking gullies, but none have proved convincing.
The lines are blackish and narrow at less than 16 feet across.
[The streaks] loved forming at temperatures that were right for liquid water to exist, says Ojha.
According to Ojha, they have not actually observed water flowing on Mars.
Still, the water left a distinctive chemical trace.
The researchers studied the chemical makeup of the recurring slope lineae using the MROs imaging spectrometer.
Thats the big mystery right now, Ojha says.
However, Ojha noted that there may three possible sources.
The salt may be grabbing moisture out of the Martian atmosphere to create liquid water.
Theres even the possibility of an aquifer that is generating the water needed for the briny flows.
source: www.techworm.net
