Mars's Interior is 400°C Hotter Under Southern Hemisphere

The article reports that an international team of scientists found that the interior of Mars is 200-400°C (392-752°F) hotter in the southern hemisphere compared to the northern hemisphere. This finding was based on gravitational data from NASA’s Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Odyssey, and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, combined with knowledge of Mars’s orbital characteristics. The study used tidal tomography to model the interior heat distribution.

The researchers used spacecraft orbital data and planetary tilt information to build a model of Mars's interior heat. The findings suggest that the southern hemisphere's interior has retained more heat due to its thicker crust, which has insulated it from the cooling of the rest of the planet. This heat could have been maintained for billions of years, offering insights into Mars's geological history.

The study highlights the complexity of planetary interiors and the importance of gravitational data in understanding their structure. It also underscores the contrast between the northern and southern hemispheres of Mars, with the southern hemisphere having a more complex and hotter interior. The findings could inform future missions and help scientists better understand the formation and evolution of planetary bodies.

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