Mars The Red Planet

Inside Mars

In the interior of Mars is only known by inference from data about the surface, and the bulk statistics on the planet. The likely scenario is a dense core about 1700 km in radius, a rocky and molten mantle that is denser than the earths and a thin crust. Data that was given by the Mars Global Surveyor shows that Mars' crust is about 80 kilometers thick around the southern hemisphere but only 35 kilometers thick in the north. Mars is low density compared to the other terrestrial planets shows that the core probably contains a large amount of sulfur as well as iron.

Mars seems to lack active plate tectonics like Mercury and the Moon. There has not been any evidence lately of horizontal motion of the surface like the folded mountains that are so common on Earth. Since there is no lateral plate motion, the hot spots under the Martian crust stay in a fixed position relative to the surface. This and the lower surface gravity probably accounts for the Tharis bulge and it's enormous volcanoes. However, there has not been any new evidence of any volcanic activity on Mars, making the comparisons to Earth much more interesting.