Martian slopes may be carved by boiling water

The streaks sometimes observed appearing and lengthening on the Martian surface may be carved by boiling water, according to a new study. Researchers came to this conclusion after studying how water interacts with soil under Mars-like conditions in the lab here on Earth. The team placed an ice-block on top of a sandy slope and observed how the water gradually filtered through the sand under a low atmospheric pressure like that on the Martian surface. The liquid water began to boil and created the streaking patterns in soil. 

Authors:

M. Massé, S. J. Conway, J. Gargani, M. R. Patel, K. Pasquon, A. McEwen, S. Carpy, V. Chevrier, M. R. Balme, L. Ojha, M. Vincendon, F. Poulet, F. Costard & G. Jouannic

Corresponding author:

M. Massé

Original paper published on May 2, 2016 in Nature Geoscience.