As I study Mars, one of my main interest is the quest for active springs on Mar. To get an active spring, you would needs a source of water where the location of the spring is downhill from the underground source of water. In other word, the topography need to be up hill from the spring.

What would a hot spring on Mars look like? It would probably have an ice cap and an outflow channel that should also be covered with ice. The ice would evaporate, but it would be replaced by the water.

Some of you may remember when I posted this picture of the Syrtis Major region on the MSNBC Space BBS;

Taken from;
http://www.msss.com/moc_gallery/ab1_m04/images/M0304128.html

This area meets the criteria I set above. You might remember my ‘frosted’ craters, with what looks like outflow channels. I wrote a short paper with my hypotheses and the links to these pictures, then e-mailed Malin. This was about 2 years ago. They focused on that area during future MOC imaging. The new pictures don’t give me any new information.

I think I have found another area on Mars that may contain active springs, which meets my criteria. Check out this image of the Melas Chasma Region in Mars great canyon;

Taken from;
http://www.msss.com/moc_gallery/e01_e06/images/E05/E0502484.html
Notice the ‘frosted’ channel. It has bends characteristic of water flows.

Deep in the canyon so close to Mars’ equator, temperatures and pressure might get high enough for water to exist briefly.

I noticed this sight is a possible sight for a future rover mission. Wouldn’t it be great if they discovered an active spring on Mars.