古代沙塵暴的證據顯示火星曾擁有類地大氣層
Evidence of ancient sandstorms suggests Mars once had an Earth-like atmosphere
2026年4月，科學家在火星上發現了古老沙塵暴的證據，揭示了該行星曾經擁有厚實許多的氣候層。
In April 2026, scientists discovered evidence of an ancient sandstorm on Mars, revealing that the planet once had a much thicker atmosphere.
研究人員利用NASA的好奇號探測車，在蓋爾隕石坑內鑑定出名為「超臨界爬升風漣漪」的獨特岩石結構。
Using the NASA Curiosity rover, researchers identified unique rock structures called "supercritical climbing wind ripples" within the Gale Crater.
這些漣漪估計有36億年的歷史，是由火星氣候層遠比今日稠密時存在的強勁風力所形成。
Estimated to be 3.6 billion years old, these ripples were formed by powerful winds that existed when the Martian atmosphere was significantly denser than it is today.
與現代火星稀薄且微弱的氣候層不同，早期的氣候層擁有運送大型沙粒所需的動力。
Unlike the thin, weak atmosphere of modern Mars, the early atmosphere had the force required to transport large sand grains.
這一發現提供了一份罕見且短期的強烈高能量風力事件紀錄，顯示早期的火星是一個充滿活力且具有潛在居住可能的世界。
This discovery provides a rare, short-term record of an intense, high-energy wind event, suggesting that early Mars was a dynamic and potentially habitable world.
這項由倫敦帝國學院的Steven Banham領導並發表於《地質學》(Geology)期刊的研究成果，幫助科學家理解火星如何從一個能支持地表水穩定存在的世界，演變為我們今日所觀察到的乾旱寒冷環境。
The findings, led by Steven Banham of Imperial College London and published in the journal Geology, help scientists understand how the planet evolved from a world that could support stable surface water into the arid, cold environment we observe today.
雖然現代火星仍會經歷大規模沙塵暴，但其缺乏這些遠古事件的能量。
While modern Mars still experiences massive dust storms, they lack the energy of these ancient events.
