Ice geysers 'discovered on Mars'

[DoYouEverWonder]

20 August 2006



Geysers spewing sand and dust hundreds of feet into the air have been discovered on Mars, scientists say.

Images from a camera orbiting Mars have shown the 100mph jets of carbon dioxide erupt through ice at the planet's south pole, Arizona State University says.

The orbiting camera, called the Thermal Emission Imaging System (Themis), is on the Mars Odyssey probe.

The geyser debris leaves dark spots, fan-like markings and spider-shaped features on the ice cap.

The scientists said geysers erupted when sunlight warming the ice turned frozen carbon dioxide underground into high-pressure gas.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5268892.stm