Mars' Southern Interior Found to Be Hundreds of Degrees Hotter Than the North
Gravity data reveal a major temperature imbalance beneath Mars, with the southern mantle estimated to be 200-400 °C hotter than the northern side and possibly partially molten.
A team led by Caltech alumnus Alexander Berne applied a gravity-based model to data from Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Odyssey and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, constructing a three-dimensional view of the planet’s interior. Their analysis shows that the mantle beneath the southern crust is roughly 200 to 400 °C hotter than that under the north, suggesting partial melting in that region. This thermal asymmetry offers a plausible explanation for the distinct magnetic anomalies and the rapid loss of seismic energy recorded in the south.
It also provides new clues about how the crustal dichotomy may have influenced ancient basins that once held liquid water. The findings, published in Nature, were funded by NASA and involve collaborators from multiple universities and research institutes.
Why it matters
Understanding Mars' internal heat distribution helps explain its magnetic history, seismic behavior, and past water environments.
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