Mars exploration: NASA's Curiosity searches for new clues about ancient water

livemint.com:

Curiosity rover of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has begun exploring a new region of Mars i.e Gediz Vallis channel—appears to have been carved by an ancient river—it could reveal more about when liquid water disappeared once and for all from the Red Planet’s surface. The rover team is focusing on the Gediz Vallis channel and searching on for evidence that would confirm how the channel was carved into the underlying bedrock. The formation’s sides are steep enough that the team doesn’t think the channel was made by wind.

The rover’s journey through this region aims to find out the process of the Gediz Vallis channel formation—whether the debris flows (rapid, wet landslides) or a river carrying rocks and sediment could have formed the bedrock. Scientists are also eager to find out whether the debris was transported by water or dry avalanches. Since 2014, Curiosity has been ascending the foothills of Mount Sharp above the floor of Gale Crater to explore the evaluation of the Mars climate change.

The study of layers in the lower part of Mount Sharp formed over millions of years may provide scientists a clue as to how the presence of both water and the chemical ingredients required for life changed over time. These layers present a chronological record of Mars’ environmental changes, crucial for understanding its potential for past life. “If the channel or the debris pile were formed by liquid water, that’s really interesting.