Research conducted by a group of students from Blenheim High School, together with Orbyts Fellow Rebecca Warrilow from Mullard Space Science Laboratory, investigated unexplored deltas across Mars to reconstruct the properties of ancient rivers. This research uncovers key details about the environmental conditions on Mars more than 3 billion years ago and assesses the planet’s potential to have once supported life!

Using global MOLA elevation data and CTX imagery, the students applied remote sensing and GIS techniques to measure delta widths and slopes. They then input these values into Python-based hydrological models to estimate properties such as median bed grain size, sediment flux, surface runoff, and formation time. These measurements are crucial indicators of past climatic conditions on Mars and offer important insights into the planet's ancient habitability.

Five out of eight sites exhibited runoff rates comparable to semi-arid rivers on Earth. While most deltas formed in under 120 years, site 7 stood out with an estimated formation time exceeding 6,000 years. These conditions suggest periodic but significant liquid water activity on a global scale, sustained for durations that could have created a stable environment capable of supporting microbial life. The wide range of runoff rates and delta formation times indicates complex variations in river formation mechanisms, potentially including flash flood events.

This comprehensive research represents a significant step forward in our understanding of Mars’ ancient hydrological systems, drawing on relationships established from rivers on Earth. This study identifies the delta at site 7 as a key candidate for future exploration in the ongoing search for life on Mars. These results also emphasise the dramatic climate shift Mars has undergone, transforming from a planet once dominated by river activity to the desert landscape observed today. Together, these findings highlight the need for continued investigation into Mars’ dynamic water history!