ENVIRONMENT

Mars Has a Warm Region Inside

A University of Arizona team used tidal tomography to study a heat anomaly in Mars’ southern hemisphere mantle. The subsurface region was estimated to be about 200 to 400 degrees Celsius warmer than the surrounding mantle, and researchers said it may provide clues about the planet’s internal evolution over time.

Illustrative photo · Photo by RDNE Stock project · Pexels

A University of Arizona team led by Alexander Byrne used a technique called tidal tomography to examine a heat anomaly in the southern hemisphere mantle of Mars.

The subsurface region was estimated to be about 200 to 400 degrees Celsius warmer than the rest of the mantle. The warm area may contain information about how Mars has changed over its lifetime.

THE QUESTIONS THIS EVENT LEAVES BEHIND

What measurements were used to estimate the temperature difference?

How deep does the anomaly extend within the mantle?

What alternative explanations for the warm region were considered?

What future observations could test the interpretation?

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28 September 2026 · 23:39 · 1 sources

Sources

Universe Today — Mars Has a Warm Region Inside