Mars' gigantic volcano largest in the whole solar system, states astronomer

Furthermore, Watson explains that the evidence of Olympus Mons standing in the wet water, possibly four billion years ago, came from the appearance of rocks on its sides, which look like lavender flowing in the ocean, exactly like it happens in Hawaii.

Researchers conducted the study to apprehend the significance of early oceans on the Red Planet and gain insights into the planet’s climate and potential extraterrestrial life. In order to accurately locate these ancient large waterbodies, scientists required unambiguous datable markers.

Morphological similarities

The study spotlighted, “Olympus Mons giant volcano shares morphological similarities with active volcanic islands on Earth where major constructional slope breaks systematically occur at the sea-air transition in response to sharp lava viscosity contrasts.”

Additionally, the readings showed the presence of matching features on the northern flank of the 1118-mile (1800 km) distant Alba Mons volcano which aligns with the hypothesis that an extended early ocean once occupied the lowlands of Mars.

Scientists explained that Olympus Mons incorporates unusual shoreline heights, which indicates that internal forces caused the surface to rise by a significant amount during the primary development of the Tharsis Bulge at a moment in the Hesperian period. 

When the ocean retreated, the shorelines were partially covered by subsequent sub-aerial activity during the Amazonian period. 

Scientists suggested that the 3.7-mi (6-km) high concentric escarpment surrounding Olympus Mons was probably created when lava interacted with liquid water, while the volcano was an active volcanic island in the late Noachian – early Hesperian period.

Universe Today reported that the study’s readings were obtained by the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA), an instrument aboard NASA’s Mars Global Surveyor (MGS). The results implied that the volcanic mountain is the tallest in the solar system, with a height of 13.6 mi (21.9 km). 

“It’s about two and a half times the height of Mount Everest (8.85 km; 5.5 mi),” said Universe Today, “according to current estimates, this extinct shield volcano formed during Mars’ Hesperian Period (ca. 3.7 to 3 billion years ago), which was characterized by widespread volcanic activity and catastrophic flooding.”

Researchers utilized radiometric methods to trace the date of the volcanic shorelines and early liquid water at crucial time periods.

The method made them exceptional markers and helped scientists gain valuable insights into the history and fate of the Martian Oceans.

The study was published in the Earth and Planetary Science Letters.

Abstract:

Tracking early oceans on Mars has fundamental climatic and exobiological implications but requires unambiguous datable markers. Here we show that the Olympus Mons giant volcano shares morphological similarities with active volcanic islands on Earth where major constructional slope breaks systematically occur at the sea-air transition in response to sharp lava viscosity contrasts. We propose that the upper rim of the 6-km high concentric main escarpment surrounding Olympus Mons most likely formed by lava flowing into liquid water when the edifice was an active volcanic island during the late Noachian - early Hesperian. Similar features on the northern flank of the 1800 km-distant Alba Mons volcano further support an extended early Ocean initially occupying Martian lowlands. Abnormal current shoreline heights imply major surface uplift promoted by internal dynamics during the main phase of development of the Tharsis Bulge at some time during the Hesperian. After ocean retreat, the uplifted shorelines were partly blanketed by late sub-aerial activity during the Amazonian. The newly proposed volcanic shorelines can be dated by radiometric methods, constituting exceptional targets to track early liquid water at key temporal steps and provide valuable insights into the timing and fate of Martian Oceans.