Devon Island: Mars on Earth

Devon Island inwards Baffin Bay , belonging to the Canadian Arctic Archipelago , is the largest uninhabited isle on public , in addition to for adept reasons. The footing remains frozen for almost the entire twelvemonth , especially the eastern 3rd of the isle which is permanently covered yesteryear an H2O ice cap some 500 to 700 meters thick. For precisely a brief catamenia , lasting 45-50 days , during the summit of summertime , the footing is snow-free. Summer temperature rises barely most 8°C. The average annual temperature is -16°C. In other words , Devon Island is a barren wasteland , dominated yesteryear frost-shattered rocks in addition to nearly devoid of plants in addition to animals. But for scientist in addition to researchers , Devon Island is an extremely interesting place. Its desert setting in addition to harsh climate is rattling similar to conditions on Mars.

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K10 Rover "Red" descending Drill Hill toward base of operations campsite at Haughton Crater Devon Island , Nunavut. Photo credit: Matt Deans/NASA

Since 2001 , Devon Island has been the summertime domicile for a grouping of people working on an international question projection called the Haughton Mars Project (HMP) that studies how human explorers mightiness alive in addition to operate on other planetary objects , inwards item on Mars.

“Devon Island's barren terrain , freezing temperatures , isolation , in addition to remoteness offering NASA scientists in addition to personnel a release of unique question opportunities ,” reads the project’s data page on NASA’s website. “Other factors , such every bit the Arctic solar daytime in addition to nighttime wheel in addition to restricted logistics in addition to communications capabilities , offering plumbing fixtures analogs for the challenges that crewmembers volition probable confront on long-duration infinite flights.”

Operated yesteryear the Mars Society in addition to primarily funded yesteryear NASA , the question is based out of the Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station (FMARS) , located on a ridge overlooking the Haughton acquit upon crater , a 23 km diameter crater formed around 39 1000000 years agone when a ii km diameter projectile slammed into the earth. The incident was in addition to thence fierce that rocks every bit far below every bit 1.7 km was brought upward to the surface. Because in that location is no flowing H2O due to the freezing temperature , weathering is minimal. As such , Haughton retains many geological features that craters elsewhere lose to erosion. The Haughton acquit upon crater surface area is said to convey i of the most Mars-like terrain on earth.

Devon Island is non precisely devoid of life. The Truelove Lowland surface area , on the northeast coast of Devon Island , is relatively warm in addition to moisture in addition to has some vegetation in addition to , surprisingly , some wild animals too. In fact , the high summertime temperature of 8°C in addition to those l days of snowfall gratis footing tumble out inwards this area. The lowlands are poorly drained favoring the increase of some moss over which Musk-Oxen graze year-round. The mutual depression temperature in addition to moisture soil is inhabited yesteryear invertebrates such every bit worms , protozoa , midge in addition to wing larvae. The isle also has a few aeroplane population.

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