News From the Field
Antarctic Salty Soil Sucks Water Out of Atmosphere: Could It Happen on Mars?

February 27, 2012

The frigid McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica are a cold, polar desert, yet the sandy soils there are frequently dotted with moist patches in the spring despite a lack of snowmelt and no possibility of rain. A new study, led by an Oregon State University geologist, found the salty soils in the region actually suck moisture out of the atmosphere, raising the possibility that such a process could take place on Mars or on other planets. Full Story

Source
Oregon State University

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