Mars research reveals complex magmatic systems and hemispheric thermal anomalies

New research into Mars' internal structure suggests the planet possesses a complex crust and a significant thermal asymmetry between its hemispheres. Using data from NASA’s InSight lander, researchers from the University of Oxford identified evidence of a vast, interconnected deep magmatic system. This finding suggests that a planet can develop a layered, complex crust through magmatic differentiation even without the plate tectonics found on Earth.

Additionally, studies utilizing tidal tomography on data from NASA orbiters reveal a massive thermal anomaly in the southern hemisphere. Temperatures in the southern mantle are estimated to be between 200°C and 400°C higher than in the north. This temperature disparity helps explain the Martian dichotomy—the contrast between the smooth northern plains and the rugged, cratered southern highlands—and may influence the planet's volcanic activity and historical habitability.