Mars craft finds evidence of a past ocean

Researchers have gathered the strongest evidence to date that the northern lowlands of Mars once had an ocean.

1999. Brown geologist finds evidence supporting ancient ocean on Mars. NASA press release. December 9. (Available at http://www.brown.edu/Administration/News_Bureau/1999-00/99-060g.html.)

Head III, J.W., et al. 1999. Possible ancient oceans on Mars: Evidence from Mars Orbiter laser altimeter data. Science 286(Dec. 10):2134.

Cowen, R. 1998. Did an ocean flatten Mars’ northern half? Science News 153(April 4):218.

James W. Head III
Brown University
Department of Geological Sciences
Providence, RI 02912

From Science News, Vol. 156, No. 25 & 26, December 18 & 25, 1999, p. 390. Copyright © 1999, Science Service.