新研究表明火星存在大型地下海洋

A new study provides evidence that Mars contains a large ocean deep beneath its surface.
一项新的研究提供了证据，表明火星的表面深处可能存在一个巨大的海洋。

The finding is based on data collected by the InSight Lander, a robotic explorer operated by the American space agency NASA.
这一发现基于由美国宇航局（NASA）操作的机器人探测器“洞察号”收集的数据。

InSight, which landed in 2018, was designed to capture data from within the planet's interior. The lander ended its operations on Mars in late 2022.
“洞察号”于2018年着陆，旨在获取火星内部的数据。该着陆器于2022年底结束了在火星上的任务。

For the current study, researchers used seismic data collected by InSight. The team examined the data to study Martian quake activity.
在当前的研究中，研究人员使用了“洞察号”收集的地震数据。研究团队通过这些数据研究了火星震的活动。

Seismic activity on Mars happens in the form of “marsquakes.” NASA says InSight had recorded more than 1,300 marsquakes.
火星上的地震活动以“火星震”的形式发生。NASA表示，“洞察号”记录了1300多次火星震。

The device InSight uses to measure ground movements is called a seismometer. NASA specially designed the lander and its instruments to be extremely sensitive for the Martian environment.
“洞察号”用于测量地面运动的设备叫做地震仪。NASA特别为火星环境设计了这个着陆器及其仪器，使其极为灵敏。

The seismic data suggests liquid water exists deep beneath the ground where InSight operated from.
地震数据表明，在“洞察号”运行的地方的地下深处可能存在液态水。

Since water is considered necessary to support life, scientists say the presence of it on Mars leaves open the possibility that some form of life might exist, or existed there in the past.
由于水被认为是支持生命所必需的，科学家表示，火星上存在水意味着某种形式的生命可能存在，或者曾经存在。

Numerous past studies have also provided evidence that liquid water could exist on Mars. Scientists have already uncovered evidence that about 3 billion years ago, the surface of Mars likely had an active system of lakes, rivers, and oceans.
许多过去的研究也提供了液态水可能存在于火星上的证据。科学家们已经发现了大约30亿年前，火星表面可能存在活跃的湖泊、河流和海洋系统的证据。

Mars is believed to have lost its surface water as its atmosphere thinned. This likely turned the planet into the dry, dusty world it is today.
据信，随着火星大气层的变薄，其表面的水逐渐消失。这很可能使火星变成了今天这样干燥、多尘的世界。

Scientists have theorized that much of the ancient water escaped out into space or remained buried under the surface.
科学家们推测，古代的大部分水要么逃逸到太空中，要么埋藏在地表之下。

Water below Martian crust
火星地壳下的水

Vashan Wright is an assistant professor of Geophysics at the University of California San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography. He helped lead the research.
瓦尚·赖特是加州大学圣地亚哥分校斯克里普斯海洋研究所的地球物理学助理教授。他协助领导了这项研究。

Wright told The Associated Press the data suggests liquid water sits between 11 to 20 kilometers down in the Martian crust.
赖特告诉美联社，数据显示，液态水位于火星地壳下约11至20公里的深处。

He added that the water likely moved down from the surface billions of years ago when water is believed to have flowed freely on Mars.
他补充说，这些水很可能是数十亿年前从表面流向地下的，当时据信火星上有自由流动的水。

The researchers combined computer models with the seismic data collected by InSight to reach their findings.
研究人员结合计算机模型与“洞察号”收集的地震数据得出了他们的发现。

They said the data showed the water is likely contained in a deep layer of igneous rock beneath the Martian surface.
他们表示，数据表明，这些水很可能被封存在火星表面下的一层火成岩中。

Igneous rock is formed from magma, a very hot liquid rock that has cooled.
火成岩由岩浆冷却形成，岩浆是一种非常炽热的液态岩石。

Wright and his team recently reported their results in a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
赖特和他的团队最近在《美国国家科学院院刊》上发表了一项研究，报告了他们的研究结果。

In a statement to Reuters news agency, Wright said, "On Earth what we know is where it is wet enough and there are enough sources of energy, there is microbial life very deep in Earth's subsurface."
赖特在对路透社的一份声明中说：“在地球上，我们知道在足够潮湿且有足够能量来源的地方，地球的深处存在微生物生命。”

He added that the data suggests "the ingredients for life as we know it” may exist in the Martian subsurface.
他补充说，数据表明“我们所知的生命成分”可能存在于火星的地下。

The researchers said the InSight lander operated around the planet's Elysium Planitia area, near the equator.
研究人员表示，“洞察号”着陆器在火星靠近赤道的伊丽莎白平原地区运行。

They believe the area is representative of the rest of Mars.
他们认为该地区代表了火星的其他部分。

The study suggests enough water exists below the surface to form a planet-wide ocean about 1 to 2 kilometers deep.
研究表明，地表下存在足够的水，可以形成一个深约1至2公里的全球性海洋。

Better understanding of Martian water cycles
更好地理解火星的水循环

There is currently no way to confirm the study's suggested existence of liquid water because it sits so far beneath the Martian surface.
目前还没有办法确认该研究所建议的液态水的存在，因为它位于火星表面之下很深的地方。

Such a confirmation would require large drills and other specialized equipment.
这种确认需要大型钻机和其他专用设备。

But Wright said in a statement that for now, researchers can use the newly examined data to gain a better understanding of Martian water cycles.
但赖特在一份声明中表示，目前研究人员可以利用新分析的数据，更好地理解火星的水循环。

This can help scientists improve their knowledge about the planet's climate as well as the development of the Martian surface and interior.
这有助于科学家们提高对火星气候以及火星表面和内部演变的了解。

Wright noted the latest findings could also help guide researchers in where to look for further evidence of possible life forms on Mars.
赖特指出，最新的发现还可以帮助研究人员指导寻找火星上可能存在的生命形式的进一步证据的地点。

"I'm inspired and I hope the public is also inspired," Wright said about the study results.
赖特在谈到研究结果时说：“我受到了启发，希望公众也能受到启发。”

"Humans can work together to put instruments on a planet... and try to understand what's going on there."
“人类可以一起努力，将仪器放置在一个星球上……并尝试理解那里发生了什么。”