Posted on 08/14/2019 7:11:55 AM PDT by BenLurkin
A few months after detecting an "unusually high" level of methane on Mars, researchers have yet to figure out what's causing the spike.
According to a study published in Scientific Reports, researchers from Newcastle University in the U.K. have ruled out that the spike could have been caused by wind erosion of rocks that had trapped the methane from fluid inclusions and fractures on the Red Planet's surface.
"The questions are -- where is this methane coming from, and is the source biological?" principal investigator Dr. Jon Telling said
Telling added that over the last decade, winds on Mars have driven more sand movement than previously thought and that the erosions could be similar to those of sand dunes seen on Earth. Using the data they had, they found that wind erosion was not the source of the methane spikes and is coming from another source.
The Mars methane spike has surprised experts. Researchers used Curiosity’s onboard laboratory to “sniff” methane in the Martian atmosphere 12 times over a 20-month period that ended in 2014.
Sudden spikes of methane also have been recorded, but scientists don’t know how long these “transient plumes” last or why they differ from seasonal patterns.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
“Shai-Hulud!!!”
Fremen unite!
The Bene Gesserit is theDeep State. Explains much.
I thought that the atmosphere on Mars was much thinner than on Earth, and concluded that wind erosion, sand dunes, etc. would be less.
Mars Warming....Martians drive SUVs...
There are still about 70 degrees in daytime near equator in summer.
Sensors on the Curiosity rover measured the amount.
From the articles, it appears that the ability to measure the amount of methane is only available in the vicinity of the rover.
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