Just as it does on Earth, it snows on Mars. However, scientists have found that Martian snow is “dustier” than it is on Earth, which could mean it’s warmer and more likely to melt into water, a new study suggests.

“There is a chance that this dusty and dark ice might melt a few centimeters down,” said the study’s lead author, Aditya Khuller, in a statement.

In June, a separate study suggested that there may be more water on Mars than previously thought.

The scientists believe that the ice that was dug up by the Phoenix lander in 2008 occurred from a snowfall sometime over the past million years.

“It is widely believed that Mars has experienced many ice ages throughout its history, and it looks like the ice being exposed throughout the mid-latitudes of Mars is the remains of this ancient dusty snowfall,” Khuller added.

If researchers are able to better learn about the potentials of water on Mars, then they may be able to better learn about its prospects for once hosting life.

“Describing these features can significantly improve the ice stability (稳定) on Mars and inform us about its age and origin,” the researchers wrote in the study.

The researchers say that more work is required to determine if the ice actually melts into water.

Khuller added, “We are working on developing improved computer imitations of Martian ice to study how it evolves over time, and whether it might melt to form liquid water. The results from this study will be necessary to our work because knowing how dark the ice is directly influences how warm it gets.”

It has been somewhat integral to find, although scientists confirmed in 2018 that Mars still has lakes filled with liquid water.

【小题1】Why does the ice on Mars melt more easily than that on Earth?

A．It’s warmer on Mars.	B．Mars’ ice is dustier and darker.
C．The temperature is not stable on Mars.	D．Mars’ ice is exposed to the sun for long.

【小题2】What might be the purpose for scientists’ study on Mars’ snow?

A．To help reduce ice’s melting.	B．To research the amount of water.
C．To speed up its turning into water.	D．To better learn the prospects of water.

【小题3】Which of the following is True according to the passage?

A．It’s impossible to learn the origin of Mars’ ice.

B．It’s easy to find lakes with liquid water on Mars.

C．Scientists are trying to improve ice stability on Mars.

D．The Phoenix lander was the first explorer to land on Mars.

【小题4】What does the underlined word “integral” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Impossible.

B．Difficult.

C．Unbelievable.

D．Interesting.