Water on Mars: New NASA study suggests Red Planet once had more water than Earth's Arctic Ocean

The video discusses Mars's ancient ocean, which covered 19% of its surface, similar to Earth's Atlantic Ocean. Mars had significantly more water in the past, but lost 87% of it to space. The presence of heavier water molecules, HDO, indicates this loss. The video explains the composition of HDO, where a deuterium atom replaces a hydrogen atom, making it a heavy isotope of hydrogen.

How much of Mars's surface did its ancient ocean cover compared to Earth's Atlantic Ocean?

• 19% of Mars's surface, similar to 17% of Earth's surface

• 25% of Mars's surface, similar to 20% of Earth's surface

• 15% of Mars's surface, similar to 10% of Earth's surface

• 30% of Mars's surface, similar to 25% of Earth's surface

What was the volume of water on Mars compared to its current ice caps?

• 5 times greater

• 10 times greater

• 6.5 times greater

• 3 times greater

What is HDO in the context of Martian water?

• A form of water with a heavier hydrogen isotope

• A form of water with an extra oxygen atom

• A form of water with an extra hydrogen atom

• A form of water with a lighter hydrogen isotope

What percentage of its water has Mars lost to space?

• 87%

• 95%

• 70%

• 50%

What does the presence of heavier water molecules on Mars indicate?

• Mars gained water from space

• Mars retained most of its water

• Mars lost a significant amount of water to space

• Mars's water evaporated into the atmosphere