Follow the Water: Importance of Water and its Evidence on Mars

This report delves into the critical role of water in sustaining life, emphasizing its importance for various biological processes and the maintenance of a habitable environment. The report highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the existence of life on Mars, presenting evidence suggesting the presence of water in different forms on the planet, including solid ice and potentially liquid brines. It discusses the findings from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which have provided strong evidence of hydrated minerals on Martian mountain slopes, indicating the past or present existence of water. Furthermore, the report explores the possibility of liquid water still existing on Mars, hidden in the southern polar region, and its implications for the potential presence of life. The conclusion reinforces the significance of water for life on Earth and the ongoing scientific efforts to understand the possibility of life beyond our planet.

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Follow the water
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FOLLOW THE WATER
Table of Contents
Introduction..........................................................................................................................2
Importance of liquid water...................................................................................................2
Evidence of presence of water on Mars...............................................................................4
Possibility of presence of water on Mars.............................................................................5
Conclusion...........................................................................................................................7
Reference List......................................................................................................................8

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Introduction
Water is an essential component for the existence of life. Without the presence of water it
will not be possible to stay alive. Every living thing needs water for the daily body functions.
Water also help in maintaining a perfect atmosphere which helps in sustaining life1. For human
beings water is a very important component as it needed by every organs which are present in the
human body. The presence of life on Mars is an age old debate which is not yet solved properly.
Many instances has showed that life might have existed in mars since there are evidences which
showed that water might have existed in Mars2. Researches are still going on regarding the
presence of life and water ion Mars. It has been found out that water which exists on Mars is in
solid condition.
Importance of liquid water
Astrobiologists believe that water is an essential element for the existence of life on
Earth. Any life form which is formed by the help of molecules requires some kind of solvent
which is mainly required for its movement3. Moving from one place to another is a very
important part of survival for animals as they need to acquire food. For the completion of this
movement the presence of liquid in their body is very important4. This is one of the reason due to
which astrobiologists think that presence of water is very much important in their body and the
1 Firth, L.B., Thompson, R.C., White, F.J., Schofield, M., Skov, M.W., Hoggart, S.P., Jackson, J., Knights,
A.M. and Hawkins, S.J., 2013. The importance of water‐retaining features for biodiversity on artificial intertidal
coastal defence structures. Diversity and Distributions, 19(10), pp.1275-1283.
2 Martín-Torres, F.J., Zorzano, M.P., Valentín-Serrano, P., Harri, A.M., Genzer, M., Kemppinen, O.,
Rivera-Valentin, E.G., Jun, I., Wray, J., Madsen, M.B. and Goetz, W., 2015. Transient liquid water and water
activity at Gale crater on Mars. Nature Geoscience, 8(5), p.357.
3 Sherry, A.D. and Wu, Y., 2013. The importance of water exchange rates in the design of responsive
agents for MRI. Current opinion in chemical biology, 17(2), pp.167-174.
4 Martín-Torres, F.J., Zorzano, M.P., Valentín-Serrano, P., Harri, A.M., Genzer, M., Kemppinen, O.,
Rivera-Valentin, E.G., Jun, I., Wray, J., Madsen, M.B. and Goetz, W., 2015. Transient liquid water and water
activity at Gale crater on Mars. Nature Geoscience, 8(5), p.357.

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existence of life is dependent on water5. Chemical reactions have been seen to be taking place in
gases and solids but is very lees in liquids6. The gas phase reactions has been seen to be taking
place in substances which contain volatile molecules. The reactions which takes place in solid is
very slow so both these kind of limitation sin other states makes liquid the optimum option for
the existence of life. This is evident form the existence of liquid in Earth.
The various complex physical and chemical attributes of water makes it suited for the
complex chemistry which is mainly needed for the existence of life on Earth. Water expands
when it freezes which gives it the option of keeping the lakes and ponds freezing in winter and
also protecting the aquatic life underneath7. These are the certain characteristics which cannot be
performed by other states of substance so water is the optimum substance for the existence of life
on Earth8. Water is also able to dissolve a lot of substances very easily and it also has high heat
capacity which makes it useful for many purposes9. This means that a lot of energy is required by
the water for changing the temperature10. This is a very important function and quality of water
5 Kasim, A., Gursoy, D., Okumus, F. and Wong, A., 2014. The importance of water management in hotels:
a framework for sustainability through innovation. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 22(7), pp.1090-1107.
6 Mix, L.J., 2016. LIFE‐VALUE NARRATIVES AND THE IMPACT OF ASTROBIOLOGY ON
CHRISTIAN ETHICS: with Andreas Losch,“Astrotheology: Exoplanets, Christian Concerns, and Human Hopes”;
David Wilkinson,“Searching for Another Earth: The Recent History of the Discovery of Exoplanets”; Michael J.
Crowe,“William Whewell, the Plurality of Worlds, and the Modern Solar System”; David Dunér,“Swedenborg and
the Plurality of Worlds: Astrotheology in the Eighteenth Century”; Ted Peters,“Astrobiology and Astrochristology”;
Howard Smith .... Zygon®, 51(2), pp.520-535.
7 Hayashi, T., Oshima, H., Mashima, T., Nagata, T., Katahira, M. and Kinoshita, M., 2014. Binding of an
RNA aptamer and a partial peptide of a prion protein: crucial importance of water entropy in molecular recognition.
Nucleic acids research, 42(11), pp.6861-6875.
8 Fischer, E., Martínez, G.M., Elliott, H.M. and Rennó, N.O., 2014. Experimental evidence for the
formation of liquid saline water on Mars. Geophysical Research Letters, 41(13), pp.4456-4462.
Kereszturi, A. and Appéré, T., 2014. Searching for springtime zonal liquid interfacial water on
Mars. Icarus, 238, pp.66-76.
9 Kereszturi, A. and Appéré, T., 2014. Searching for springtime zonal liquid interfacial water on
Mars. Icarus, 238, pp.66-76.
10 Sarma, R. and Paul, S., 2013. Crucial importance of water structure modification on trimethylamine N-
oxide counteracting effect at high pressure. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 117(2), pp.677-689.

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which makes it easy to adapt to different situations11. With the presence of water the Earth is also
able to maintain a proper moderate climate which supports life in it12.
Evidence of presence of water on Mars
New findings which has been brought about by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
(MRO) has provided strong evidence by the help of which it can be said that water is present in
Mars13. By the usage of image spectrometer it can be said that certain signatures has been found
which shows that there are hydrated minerals on the various slopes of the mountains of Mars.
These kind of darkish streaks which has been seen to be present in the mountains of Mars14.
11 Cha, Y., Cho, K.H., Lee, H., Kang, T. and Kim, J.H., 2017. The relative importance of water temperature
and residence time in predicting cyanobacteria abundance in regulated rivers. Water research, 124, pp.11-19.
12 Martín-Torres, F.J., Zorzano, M.P., Valentín-Serrano, P., Harri, A.M., Genzer, M., Kemppinen, O.,
Rivera-Valentin, E.G., Jun, I., Wray, J., Madsen, M.B. and Goetz, W., 2015. Transient liquid water and water
activity at Gale crater on Mars. Nature Geoscience, 8(5), p.357.
13 NASA Confirms Evidence That Liquid Water Flows on Today’s Mars. (2020). Retrieved 20 January
2020, from https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-confirms-evidence-that-liquid-water-flows-on-today-s-mars.
14 NASA Confirms Evidence That Liquid Water Flows on Today’s Mars. (2020). Retrieved 20 January
2020, from https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-confirms-evidence-that-liquid-water-flows-on-today-s-mars.

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Figure 1: Mountain on Mars
Source: NASA
In the following figure it can be seen that the lines which has been made in the creaks of
the mountains are the signs of flowing water15. NASA has stated that from this it is quite evident
that water was present in Mars in the past but it has not yet been confirmed that water is still
present in the red planet16.
Possibility of presence of water on Mars
Water might still be present in the red planet but it is extremely hard to spot it on the
planet. Scientists have been doing thorough research on the presence of water on Mars17. It has
been seen that many unmanned vehicles have been sent in the planet in the past which has been
15 Carr, M.H. and Head, J.W., 2015. Martian surface/near‐surface water inventory: Sources, sinks, and
changes with time. Geophysical Research Letters, 42(3), pp.726-732.
16 NASA Confirms Evidence That Liquid Water Flows on Today’s Mars. (2020). Retrieved 20 January
2020, from https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-confirms-evidence-that-liquid-water-flows-on-today-s-mars.
17 Edwards, C.S. and Piqueux, S., 2016. The water content of recurring slope lineae on Mars. Geophysical
Research Letters, 43(17), pp.8912-8919.

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used to find evidence of the presence of water in the planet18. The various observations which has
been made in the red planet in the past years has stated that there were presence of water in the
planet. In the modern context it can be said that with ten advancement in the technology it might
be actually possible in the future to detect water in the planet. If water is detected in the planet
then there will be increased chances that life was also present in the planet and also there is
chances that life still exists in the planet19.
The researchers in the modern time believe that there is a huge pool of water in Mars
which is hidden in the Southern pole on the planet. Some investigation has showed that the
southern pole of the planet is composed of thick layers of ice which shows that water might be
present underneath. It has been supposed that almost 1.5 km area which has been spread over
200 km region is covered with ice underneath20. Some underwater pockets have been detected in
the area and it has been proposed that there might be presence of many other pockets in the area.
Researchers believe that the lake composed of water might be containing some amount of water
which is keeping the water frozen21. The most exciting part of this assumption is that there might
be presence of many other water pocket throughout the surface of Mars. This opens up many
possibilities which might suggest that the presence of water in the area means that life might also
be present in the area.
18 Martínez, G.M. and Renno, N.O., 2013. Water and brines on Mars: current evidence and implications for
MSL. Space Science Reviews, 175(1-4), pp.29-51.
19 Palmer, M.Y., Cordiner, M.A., Nixon, C.A., Charnley, S.B., Teanby, N.A., Kisiel, Z., Irwin, P.G. and
Mumma, M.J., 2017. ALMA detection and astrobiological potential of vinyl cyanide on Titan. Science
advances, 3(7), p.e1700022.
20 Cottin, H., Kotler, J.M., Bartik, K., Cleaves, H.J., Cockell, C.S., de Vera, J.P.P., Ehrenfreund, P., Leuko,
S., Ten Kate, I.L., Martins, Z. and Pascal, R., 2017. Astrobiology and the Possibility of Life on Earth and
Elsewhere…. Space science reviews, 209(1-4), pp.1-42.
21 Cottin, H., Kotler, J.M., Bartik, K., Cleaves, H.J., Cockell, C.S., de Vera, J.P.P., Ehrenfreund, P., Leuko,
S., Ten Kate, I.L., Martins, Z. and Pascal, R., 2017. Astrobiology and the Possibility of Life on Earth and
Elsewhere…. Space science reviews, 209(1-4), pp.1-42.

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Conclusion
To conclude it can be said that water is an essential components on Earth and is the main
reason behind the existence of life on Earth. In the modern context it can be said the presence of
water on Earth is the main reason life exists in Earth among all the other planets in the solar
systems. The presence of water is very much essential for the growth of vegetation in the planet
and most of the animals on earth even humans depend on the food which is being produced by
the plants. The various functions and the characteristics of water also helps it to become the most
important component of daily functions. The presence of life on mars is also one of the major
question which needs to be answered. Scientists from all around the world have been researching
on this topic and they want to know whether life exists even outside earth. The observations
which has been seen by NASA confirms that there might be presence of life in Mars at the
moment or it might have existed in the past.

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Reference List
Carr, M.H. and Head, J.W., 2015. Martian surface/near‐surface water inventory: Sources, sinks,
and changes with time. Geophysical Research Letters, 42(3), pp.726-732.
Cha, Y., Cho, K.H., Lee, H., Kang, T. and Kim, J.H., 2017. The relative importance of water
temperature and residence time in predicting cyanobacteria abundance in regulated rivers. Water
research, 124, pp.11-19.
Cottin, H., Kotler, J.M., Bartik, K., Cleaves, H.J., Cockell, C.S., de Vera, J.P.P., Ehrenfreund, P.,
Leuko, S., Ten Kate, I.L., Martins, Z. and Pascal, R., 2017. Astrobiology and the Possibility of
Life on Earth and Elsewhere…. Space science reviews, 209(1-4), pp.1-42.
Edwards, C.S. and Piqueux, S., 2016. The water content of recurring slope lineae on
Mars. Geophysical Research Letters, 43(17), pp.8912-8919.
Firth, L.B., Thompson, R.C., White, F.J., Schofield, M., Skov, M.W., Hoggart, S.P., Jackson, J.,
Knights, A.M. and Hawkins, S.J., 2013. The importance of water‐retaining features for
biodiversity on artificial intertidal coastal defence structures. Diversity and Distributions, 19(10),
pp.1275-1283.
Fischer, E., Martínez, G.M., Elliott, H.M. and Rennó, N.O., 2014. Experimental evidence for the
formation of liquid saline water on Mars. Geophysical Research Letters, 41(13), pp.4456-4462.
Hayashi, T., Oshima, H., Mashima, T., Nagata, T., Katahira, M. and Kinoshita, M., 2014.
Binding of an RNA aptamer and a partial peptide of a prion protein: crucial importance of water
entropy in molecular recognition. Nucleic acids research, 42(11), pp.6861-6875.

9
FOLLOW THE WATER
Kasim, A., Gursoy, D., Okumus, F. and Wong, A., 2014. The importance of water management
in hotels: a framework for sustainability through innovation. Journal of Sustainable
Tourism, 22(7), pp.1090-1107.
Kereszturi, A. and Appéré, T., 2014. Searching for springtime zonal liquid interfacial water on
Mars. Icarus, 238, pp.66-76.
Martínez, G.M. and Renno, N.O., 2013. Water and brines on Mars: current evidence and
implications for MSL. Space Science Reviews, 175(1-4), pp.29-51.
Martín-Torres, F.J., Zorzano, M.P., Valentín-Serrano, P., Harri, A.M., Genzer, M., Kemppinen,
O., Rivera-Valentin, E.G., Jun, I., Wray, J., Madsen, M.B. and Goetz, W., 2015. Transient liquid
water and water activity at Gale crater on Mars. Nature Geoscience, 8(5), p.357.
Mix, L.J., 2016. LIFE‐VALUE NARRATIVES AND THE IMPACT OF ASTROBIOLOGY ON
CHRISTIAN ETHICS: with Andreas Losch,“Astrotheology: Exoplanets, Christian Concerns,
and Human Hopes”; David Wilkinson,“Searching for Another Earth: The Recent History of the
Discovery of Exoplanets”; Michael J. Crowe,“William Whewell, the Plurality of Worlds, and the
Modern Solar System”; David Dunér,“Swedenborg and the Plurality of Worlds: Astrotheology in
the Eighteenth Century”; Ted Peters,“Astrobiology and Astrochristology”; Howard
Smith .... Zygon®, 51(2), pp.520-535.
NASA Confirms Evidence That Liquid Water Flows on Today’s Mars. (2020). Retrieved 20
January 2020, from https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-confirms-evidence-that-liquid-
water-flows-on-today-s-mars.

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Palmer, M.Y., Cordiner, M.A., Nixon, C.A., Charnley, S.B., Teanby, N.A., Kisiel, Z., Irwin,
P.G. and Mumma, M.J., 2017. ALMA detection and astrobiological potential of vinyl cyanide on
Titan. Science advances, 3(7), p.e1700022.
Sarma, R. and Paul, S., 2013. Crucial importance of water structure modification on
trimethylamine N-oxide counteracting effect at high pressure. The Journal of Physical Chemistry
B, 117(2), pp.677-689.
Sherry, A.D. and Wu, Y., 2013. The importance of water exchange rates in the design of
responsive agents for MRI. Current opinion in chemical biology, 17(2), pp.167-174.