Searching for Water on Planetary Surfaces: A Research Study
Researchers at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME) have developed a mathematical model that can explain how cracks form on the surface of planets. This breakthrough could potentially help identify areas where water may have once existed on planets.
The international team of researchers, including experts from the HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network and the University of Pennsylvania, used the model to study the evolution of crack networks on planetary surfaces. Their findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
The model, which is the first of its kind to be applied to planetary surface patterns, was developed based on previous research conducted by Hungarian researchers in collaboration with Péter Bálint, Director of the BME Institute of Mathematics. By analyzing the geometry of crack patterns in photographs, the researchers were able to identify three main types of crack networks.
Hierarchical crack patterns, dominated by irregular T-shaped nodes, are found in systems where cracks form sequentially and new cracks develop along existing ones. Cyclically expanding and contracting fracture patterns, characterized by Y-shaped nodes, indicate repeated volume changes in the surface material, potentially linked to the presence of water. Cracks affected by ice, with X-shaped nodes, show patterns that intersect over time due to the refreezing of ice.
The researchers suggest that analyzing the geometry of crack patterns can help identify areas where water may have once existed or currently exists on planetary surfaces. For example, hexagonal crack networks on Mars suggest past water movement, while transverse cracks on Europa support the possibility of a liquid ocean beneath the ice shelf.
The new model allows for systematic mapping of crack networks using image analysis methods, enabling geologists to draw meaningful conclusions from vast amounts of data. Gábor Domokos, a professor at BME, emphasized that these patterns evolve according to universal rules and can provide insights into the past and future of planetary surfaces.
The study’s results offer a new tool for planetary science, opening up possibilities for studying celestial bodies with available satellite images. Further developments may include the automation of methods using artificial intelligence-based image analysis systems for more precise identification of crack networks in space images.
The research team believes that studying crack patterns could provide valuable information about the role of water in shaping planetary surfaces and potentially creating conditions for life. The next steps may involve developing automated image analysis systems to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of identifying crack networks in space images.
