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Mars Express Confirms Methane in the Martian Atmosphere
European Space Agency via NASA Watch ^ | Tuesday, March 30, 2004

Posted on 03/30/2004 12:25:47 PM PST by Frank_Discussion

Mars Express Confirms Methane in the Martian Atmosphere

During recent observations from the ESA Mars Express spacecraft in orbit around Mars, methane was detected in its atmosphere.

Whilst it is too early to draw any conclusions on its origin, exciting as they may be, scientists are thinking about the next steps to take in order to understand more.

From the time of its arrival at Mars, the Mars Express spacecraft started producing stunning results. One of the aims of the mission is analysing in detail the chemical composition of the Martian atmosphere, known to consist of 95% percent carbon dioxide plus 5% of minor constituents. It is also from these minor constituents, which scientists expect to be oxygen, water, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and methane, that we may get important information on the evolution of the planet and possible implications for the presence of past or present life.

The presence of methane has been confirmed thanks to the observations of the Planetary Fourier Spectrometer (PFS) on board Mars Express during the past few weeks. This instrument is able to detect the presence of particular molecules by analysing their "spectral fingerprints" - the specific way each molecule absorbs the sunlight it receives.

The measurements confirm so far that the amount of methane is very small - about 10 parts in a thousand million, so its production process is probably small. However, the exciting question "where does this methane come from?" remains.

Methane, unless it is continuously produced by a source, only survives in the Martian atmosphere for a few hundreds of years because it quickly oxidises to form water and carbon dioxide, both present in the Martian atmosphere. So, there must be a mechanism that refills the atmosphere with methane.

"The first thing to understand is how exactly the methane is distributed in the Martian atmosphere," says Vittorio Formisano, Principal Investigator for the PFS instrument. "Since the methane presence is so small, we need to take more measurements. Only then we will have enough data to make a statistical analysis and understand whether there are regions of the atmosphere where methane is more concentrated".

Once this is done, scientists will try to establish a link between the planet-wide distribution of methane and possible atmospheric or surface processes that may produce it. "Based on our experience on Earth, the methane production could be linked to volcanic or hydro-thermal activity on Mars. The High Resolution Stereo camera (HRSC) on Mars Express could help us identify visible activity, if it exists, on the surface of the planet", continues Formisano. Clearly, if it was the case, this would imply a very important consequence, as present volcanic activity had never been detected so far on Mars.

Other hypotheses could also be considered. On Earth, methane is a by-product of biological activity, such as fermentation. "If we have to exclude the volcanic hypothesis, we could still consider the possibility of life," concludes Formisano.

"In the next few weeks, the PFS and other instruments on-board Mars Express will continue gathering data on the Martian atmosphere, and by then we will be able to draw a more precise picture," says Agustin Chicarro, ESA Mars Express Project Scientist.

Thanks to the PFS instrument, scientists are also gathering precious data about isotopes in atmospheric molecules such as water and carbon dioxide - very important to understand how the planet was formed and to add clues on the atmospheric escape. The PFS also gives important hints about water-cloud formation on the top of volcanoes, and shows the presence of active photochemical processes in the atmosphere.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Unclassified
KEYWORDS: airpollution; fartinmartians; greenhousegases; mars
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To: Centurion2000
That's a good comparison! You know, that little fart Marvin always annoyed me!

Lando

41 posted on 03/30/2004 12:50:52 PM PST by Lando Lincoln (GWB in 2004)
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To: Moonman62; Tourist Guy
I think it was Tourist Guy...MUD
42 posted on 03/30/2004 12:53:35 PM PST by Mudboy Slim (RE-IMPEACH Osama bil Clinton!!)
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To: In_25_words_or_less
Major Who?
43 posted on 03/30/2004 12:54:25 PM PST by Forrestfire
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To: Frank_Discussion
Presumably, PETA is now going to protest Martian global warming.
44 posted on 03/30/2004 12:57:27 PM PST by Starve The Beast (I used to be disgusted, but now I try to be amused)
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To: RightWhale
...reads widely.

Ax him if he reads Golds books.

Many "capable" intellectuals don't.

45 posted on 03/30/2004 1:03:01 PM PST by norraad ("What light!">Blues Brothers)
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To: Moonman62
I produce methane every time I eat my Taco Bell. Are there any Taco Bells on Mars??
46 posted on 03/30/2004 1:08:51 PM PST by pctech
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To: norraad
Ax him if he reads Golds books

Assuming that he has not read Golds' books--and he might well have--but doesn't have time now for a lot of extracurricular activities while his satellite is orbiting Mars and working like a charm, why would Golds' books be important to the science experiments at hand?

47 posted on 03/30/2004 1:11:25 PM PST by RightWhale (Theorems link concepts; proofs establish links)
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To: Frank_Discussion
Oh nooooooooo, now the EPA will be after those damnable polluting Martians.

On the other hand, perhaps we can ship a cart load of enviromentalists on a one way crusade to save the red planet. Al Gore can lead them.

48 posted on 03/30/2004 1:14:36 PM PST by wattsmag2
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To: pctech
I've only seen pictures of the Golden Arches.
49 posted on 03/30/2004 1:15:21 PM PST by Moonman62
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To: Moonman62

Not the dog, Bugalo!

50 posted on 03/30/2004 1:20:44 PM PST by TC Rider (The United States Constitution © 1791. All Rights Reserved.)
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To: Frank_Discussion
This whole thread stinks.
51 posted on 03/30/2004 1:41:03 PM PST by presidio9 (protectionism is a false god)
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To: Fitzcarraldo
"Methane could be trapped in the water ice and be slowly dispersed, the same way methane hydrates are released from Earth's ocean floor."

How did the methane come to be suspended in water?
52 posted on 03/30/2004 1:42:10 PM PST by adam_az (Call your state Republican party office and VOLUNTEER FOR A CAMPAIGN!!!)
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To: Moonman62
Right!

yeah, yeah, it WAS the dog!!!
53 posted on 03/30/2004 1:43:28 PM PST by WhiteGuy (Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press...)
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To: adam_az
Bean-eatin' fish!
54 posted on 03/30/2004 1:43:46 PM PST by Frank_Discussion (May the wings of Liberty never lose a feather!)
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To: presidio9
Glad you think so!
55 posted on 03/30/2004 1:44:08 PM PST by Frank_Discussion (May the wings of Liberty never lose a feather!)
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To: Frank_Discussion; Grampa Dave

It's Bush's fault!!! ;)
56 posted on 03/30/2004 1:44:17 PM PST by adam_az (Call your state Republican party office and VOLUNTEER FOR A CAMPAIGN!!!)
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To: adam_az
The BEST Post on the thread!! LOL!!
57 posted on 03/30/2004 1:44:51 PM PST by Frank_Discussion (May the wings of Liberty never lose a feather!)
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To: Frank_Discussion
Thank you!

Fried sauerkraut and sausage..............

A hit in any man's league.
58 posted on 03/30/2004 1:44:51 PM PST by WhiteGuy (Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press...)
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To: Frank_Discussion
Thanks ;)
59 posted on 03/30/2004 1:45:43 PM PST by adam_az (Call your state Republican party office and VOLUNTEER FOR A CAMPAIGN!!!)
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To: Poohbah
See post # 58, and Thank you!
60 posted on 03/30/2004 1:45:48 PM PST by WhiteGuy (Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press...)
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