An international research team has identified evidence pointing to potential ongoing volcanic activity on Mars, based on atmospheric measurements and surface observations collected by the European Space Agency’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. Scientists detected elevated concentrations of hydrogen chloride gas above fractures in the Alba Mons volcanic region during early summer in the Martian northern hemisphere, contrary to typical seasonal patterns where such gases become scarce during this period. The findings, reported in Science Advances, suggest that underground magma may be releasing gases through cracks in the Martian surface, similar to volcanic vents called fumaroles on Earth.
Researchers examined high-resolution surface images alongside atmospheric data to understand the phenomenon. The orbiter’s cameras revealed narrow fractures with unusual coloration around the edges, potentially indicating mineral deposits left behind by escaping gases. The team proposes that extremely cold Martian winters seal these fractures with ice, but as temperatures rise in early summer, the ice sublimates and allows subsurface gases to escape. The researchers evaluated alternative chemical explanations for the hydrogen chloride but determined that the spatial distribution and timing of the emissions strongly suggested a volcanic origin.
The discovery has broader implications for understanding Mars’ geological history and potential for supporting life. If volcanic processes remain active on Mars, they could indicate the planet has retained sufficient internal heat to maintain dormant magma systems. In Earth’s history, comparable volcanic activity helped shape planetary atmospheres and created conditions suitable for life. On Mars, both ancient and potentially ongoing volcanic activity could have contributed to past habitability by generating gases that warmed the atmosphere, or by creating subsurface hydrothermal environments capable of supporting microbial life today.
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