<p>Scientists talk about the possibility of life underground on Mars, and I assume they are talking about microscopic life that can live in small gaps in the soil or rock.  But is there any evidence that there might be large caverns under the surface of Mars relative to the human scale or even larger?</p>

<p>Then I wonder how could we even detect or map such subsurface features on Mars or other rocky bodies in the solar system such as Titan, Venus, or even the Moon.  Could we use radar or maybe sonar for bodies with substantial atmospheres from an orbiting spacecraft?  Are there other methods for detecting sub-surface cavities? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-06-29T14:59:56.660Z
Large lava tubes have been found on Mars: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martian_lava_tube Underground life on Mars should be measurable by its release of methane into the atmosphere, which has not been conclusively detected.
LocalFluff
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-01T15:43:13.583Z
Since water is known to be on Mars, and used to flow on Mars, and flowing water has created caverns on Earth, I would say caverns on Mars are quite likely.  I would be interested in seeing future space missions to detect them.
Jonathan
<planet><mars><volcanism>
Are there large underground caverns on Mars?
Kevin Holmes
# Are there large underground caverns on Mars?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-06-29)

Scientists talk about the possibility of life underground on Mars, and I assume they are talking about microscopic life that can live in small gaps in the soil or rock. But is there any evidence that there might be large caverns under the surface of Mars relative to the human scale or even larger?

Then I wonder how could we even detect or map such subsurface features on Mars or other rocky bodies in the solar system such as Titan, Venus, or even the Moon. Could we use radar or maybe sonar for bodies with substantial atmospheres from an orbiting spacecraft? Are there other methods for detecting sub-surface cavities?

**Tags:** planet, mars, volcanism
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Large lava tubes have been found on Mars: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martian_lava_tube Underground life on Mars should be measurable by its release of methane into the atmosphere, which has not been conclusively detected.  
> **username_2**: Since water is known to be on Mars, and used to flow on Mars, and flowing water has created caverns on Earth, I would say caverns on Mars are quite likely.  I would be interested in seeing future space missions to detect them.  

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## 0 answers

