Mars exhibits a major geological mystery known as the “Martian dichotomy,” characterized by its southern highlands, which are 5 to 6 kilometers higher than the northern lowlands. This stark contrast has led to debates about whether it is caused by external events, like asteroid impacts, or internal processes, such as heat flow from the planet’s molten core. A recent study utilizing data from NASA’s InSight lander suggests that the dichotomy’s origin may be linked to internal forces, revealing that the southern highlands have hotter, thicker crust compared to the northern lowlands.
The southern highlands are older, marked by craters and volcanic flows, while the northern lowlands are smoother with fewer features. Scientists propose two main hypotheses: the endogenous hypothesis points to internal heat transfer and tectonic history, while the extrinsic hypothesis attributes it to cosmic events. By analyzing earthquake data, researchers found that seismic waves lose energy faster in the southern region, indicating hotter rocks. This supports the idea of an internal cause for the dichotomy and suggests that past tectonic activity shaped the planet’s current structure. Further research incorporating more seismic data will be essential to unravel this planetary enigma.
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