Aleksandra Sokolowska, a UKRI fellow at Imperial College London, has developed impressive new insight into the Martian subsurface. Computer simulations are her secret weapon in obtaining these trailblazing revelations. Sokolowska and her team joined forces with Imperial College’s Professor Gareth Collins to make an in-depth study of two new impact craters on Mars. Their mission was to shed light on the geological enigmas hidden beneath the planet’s surface. Their study, titled “The Link Between Subsurface Rheology and Ejecta Mobility: The Case of Small New Impacts on Mars,” was recently published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.
This study continues that research to help close the gap between simulation outputs and observed ground truth, by examining rock produced by real-life craters. NASA’s High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) instrument captured images of these fresh impact craters, providing essential information for the team’s study. The discoveries have far-reaching implications, both for how we comprehend Mars and as lessons learned for future interplanetary exploration.
Understanding the Research Focus
The main goal of Sokolowska’s research is to learn what’s under the surface of Mars. The study’s researchers focused on two high-energy impact craters. One on Earth rests on hard crystalline bedrock. The other holds frozen water below the surface. Their purpose was to illuminate the role subsurface rheology plays in determining ejecta mobility.
The team used computer simulations, which Collins co-developed, to study the impactor’s ejecta created by these impacts. This method allowed them to recreate the material’s performance during extreme conditions. As a result, they learned a lot about the physical properties of Martian soil and ice. This kind of knowledge will prove invaluable to the success of future missions focused on characterizing Mars’s geology and habitability.
The decision to use newly formed impact craters as our central theme was deliberate. When investigated, these craters tell us an ongoing story of recent geological activity and provide unrivaled access to study the dynamic state of Martian geology today. The coordinating research team realized that studying a controlled environment with differing subsurface conditions would provide rich learning opportunities. Such a maneuver would allow them to more easily identify the materials that constitute Mars’s crust.
Methodology and Findings
NASA’s HiRISE instrument
Sokolowska and her colleagues used data from NASA’s High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera to map the distributions and layering of impact deposits. That data was used as a base for their computer models and show the ability to compare simulated results with observed reality. With ground truth from these images, the team was able to confirm their findings and continue calibrating their models.
What stood out most from their study was the clear dichotomy between the two craters. The crater that overlies solid bedrock had a noticeably different ejecta pattern than the crater with subsurface ice. This difference gave very useful context for understanding how subsurface conditions can impact the mobility of ejecta during an impact event.
The research underscored just how important it is to understand subsurface rheology. This study addresses an essential aspect—how materials deform under stress—which is critical for deciphering Martian geologic processes. Sokolowska and her colleagues have begun to link rheological behavior with ejecta mobility. This remarkable connection provides new opportunities for understanding Mars’s geological history and its capacity to sustain life.
Implications for Future Research
Sokolowska’s findings have serious implications that extend far beyond the ivory tower. Beyond scientific discovery, they are critical for informing and enabling future human exploration efforts to Mars. As space agencies prepare for manned missions and more sophisticated robotic explorations, understanding Martian geology becomes increasingly important.
As such, this study should prove highly beneficial to ongoing and future mission planning. It pinpoints regions that are geologically rich and warrant more exploration. By learning more about subsurface conditions, scientists can create the best possible strategy for using Martian resources. This means determining which critical water to extract and where to build the best habitats.
This study highlights the importance of interdisciplinary teamwork in planetary science. By combining expertise in computer simulations, geology, and imaging technology, Sokolowska and her team have demonstrated how innovative approaches can lead to richer understandings of planetary environments.