Background levels of methane in Mars' atmosphere show strong seasonal variations

Christopher R. Webster; Paul R. Mahaffy; Sushil K. Atreya; John E. Moores; Gregory J. Flesch; Charles Malespin; Christopher P. McKay; German Martinez; Christina L. Smith; Javier Martin-Torres; Javier Gomez-Elvira; Maria Paz Zorzano; Michael H. Wong; Melissa G. Trainer; Andrew Steele; Doug Archer; Brad Sutter; Patrice J. Coll; Caroline Freissinet; Pierre Yves Meslin; Raina V. Gough; Christopher H. House; Alexander Pavlov; Jennifer L. Eigenbrode; Daniel P. Glavin; John C. Pearson; Didier Keymeulen; Lance E. Christensen; Susanne P. Schwenzer; Rafael Navarro-Gonzalez; Jorge Pla-García; Scot C.R. Rafkin; Álvaro Vicente-Retortillo; Henrik Kahanpää; Daniel Viudez-Moreiras; Michael D. Smith; Ari Matti Harri; Maria Genzer; Donald M. Hassler; Mark Lemmon; Joy Crisp; Stanley P. Sander; Richard W. Zurek; Ashwin R. Vasavada

doi:10.1126/science.aaq0131

Background levels of methane in Mars' atmosphere show strong seasonal variations

Christopher R. Webster, Paul R. Mahaffy, Sushil K. Atreya, John E. Moores, Gregory J. Flesch, Charles Malespin, Christopher P. McKay, German Martinez, Christina L. Smith, Javier Martin-Torres, Javier Gomez-Elvira, Maria Paz Zorzano, Michael H. Wong, Melissa G. Trainer, Andrew Steele, Doug Archer, Brad Sutter, Patrice J. Coll, Caroline Freissinet, Pierre Yves MeslinRaina V. Gough, Christopher H. House, Alexander Pavlov, Jennifer L. Eigenbrode, Daniel P. Glavin, John C. Pearson, Didier Keymeulen, Lance E. Christensen, Susanne P. Schwenzer, Rafael Navarro-Gonzalez, Jorge Pla-García, Scot C.R. Rafkin, Álvaro Vicente-Retortillo, Henrik Kahanpää, Daniel Viudez-Moreiras, Michael D. Smith, Ari Matti Harri, Maria Genzer, Donald M. Hassler, Mark Lemmon, Joy Crisp, Stanley P. Sander, Richard W. Zurek, Ashwin R. Vasavada

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Abstract

Variable levels of methane in the martian atmosphere have eluded explanation partly because the measurements are not repeatable in time or location.We report in situ measurements at Gale crater made over a 5-year period by the Tunable Laser Spectrometer on the Curiosity rover.The background levels of methane have a mean value 0.41 ± 0.16 parts per billion by volume (ppbv) (95% confidence interval) and exhibit a strong, repeatable seasonal variation (0.24 to 0.65 ppbv).This variation is greater than that predicted from either ultraviolet degradation of impact-delivered organics on the surface or from the annual surface pressure cycle.The large seasonal variation in the background and occurrences of higher temporary spikes (∼7 ppbv) are consistent with small localized sources of methane released from martian surface or subsurface reservoirs.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1093-1096
Number of pages	4
Journal	Science
Volume	360
Issue number	6393
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaq0131
State	Published - Jun 8 2018

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Webster, C. R., Mahaffy, P. R., Atreya, S. K., Moores, J. E., Flesch, G. J., Malespin, C., McKay, C. P., Martinez, G., Smith, C. L., Martin-Torres, J., Gomez-Elvira, J., Zorzano, M. P., Wong, M. H., Trainer, M. G., Steele, A., Archer, D., Sutter, B., Coll, P. J., Freissinet, C., ... Vasavada, A. R. (2018). Background levels of methane in Mars' atmosphere show strong seasonal variations. Science, 360(6393), 1093-1096. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaq0131

@article{3084dd40b0114e1da11710e036a564ad,

title = "Background levels of methane in Mars' atmosphere show strong seasonal variations",

abstract = "Variable levels of methane in the martian atmosphere have eluded explanation partly because the measurements are not repeatable in time or location.We report in situ measurements at Gale crater made over a 5-year period by the Tunable Laser Spectrometer on the Curiosity rover.The background levels of methane have a mean value 0.41 ± 0.16 parts per billion by volume (ppbv) (95% confidence interval) and exhibit a strong, repeatable seasonal variation (0.24 to 0.65 ppbv).This variation is greater than that predicted from either ultraviolet degradation of impact-delivered organics on the surface or from the annual surface pressure cycle.The large seasonal variation in the background and occurrences of higher temporary spikes (∼7 ppbv) are consistent with small localized sources of methane released from martian surface or subsurface reservoirs.",

author = "Webster, {Christopher R.} and Mahaffy, {Paul R.} and Atreya, {Sushil K.} and Moores, {John E.} and Flesch, {Gregory J.} and Charles Malespin and McKay, {Christopher P.} and German Martinez and Smith, {Christina L.} and Javier Martin-Torres and Javier Gomez-Elvira and Zorzano, {Maria Paz} and Wong, {Michael H.} and Trainer, {Melissa G.} and Andrew Steele and Doug Archer and Brad Sutter and Coll, {Patrice J.} and Caroline Freissinet and Meslin, {Pierre Yves} and Gough, {Raina V.} and House, {Christopher H.} and Alexander Pavlov and Eigenbrode, {Jennifer L.} and Glavin, {Daniel P.} and Pearson, {John C.} and Didier Keymeulen and Christensen, {Lance E.} and Schwenzer, {Susanne P.} and Rafael Navarro-Gonzalez and Jorge Pla-Garc{\'i}a and Rafkin, {Scot C.R.} and {\'A}lvaro Vicente-Retortillo and Henrik Kahanp{\"a}{\"a} and Daniel Viudez-Moreiras and Smith, {Michael D.} and Harri, {Ari Matti} and Maria Genzer and Hassler, {Donald M.} and Mark Lemmon and Joy Crisp and Sander, {Stanley P.} and Zurek, {Richard W.} and Vasavada, {Ashwin R.}",

year = "2018",

month = jun,

day = "8",

doi = "10.1126/science.aaq0131",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "360",

pages = "1093--1096",

journal = "Science",

issn = "0036-8075",

publisher = "American Association for the Advancement of Science",

number = "6393",

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Webster, CR, Mahaffy, PR, Atreya, SK, Moores, JE, Flesch, GJ, Malespin, C, McKay, CP, Martinez, G, Smith, CL, Martin-Torres, J, Gomez-Elvira, J, Zorzano, MP, Wong, MH, Trainer, MG, Steele, A, Archer, D, Sutter, B, Coll, PJ, Freissinet, C, Meslin, PY, Gough, RV, House, CH, Pavlov, A, Eigenbrode, JL, Glavin, DP, Pearson, JC, Keymeulen, D, Christensen, LE, Schwenzer, SP, Navarro-Gonzalez, R, Pla-García, J, Rafkin, SCR, Vicente-Retortillo, Á, Kahanpää, H, Viudez-Moreiras, D, Smith, MD, Harri, AM, Genzer, M, Hassler, DM, Lemmon, M, Crisp, J, Sander, SP, Zurek, RW & Vasavada, AR 2018, 'Background levels of methane in Mars' atmosphere show strong seasonal variations', Science, vol. 360, no. 6393, pp. 1093-1096. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaq0131

TY - JOUR

T1 - Background levels of methane in Mars' atmosphere show strong seasonal variations

AU - Webster, Christopher R.

AU - Mahaffy, Paul R.

AU - Atreya, Sushil K.

AU - Moores, John E.

AU - Flesch, Gregory J.

AU - Malespin, Charles

AU - McKay, Christopher P.

AU - Martinez, German

AU - Smith, Christina L.

AU - Martin-Torres, Javier

AU - Gomez-Elvira, Javier

AU - Zorzano, Maria Paz

AU - Wong, Michael H.

AU - Trainer, Melissa G.

AU - Steele, Andrew

AU - Archer, Doug

AU - Sutter, Brad

AU - Coll, Patrice J.

AU - Freissinet, Caroline

AU - Meslin, Pierre Yves

AU - Gough, Raina V.

AU - House, Christopher H.

AU - Pavlov, Alexander

AU - Eigenbrode, Jennifer L.

AU - Glavin, Daniel P.

AU - Pearson, John C.

AU - Keymeulen, Didier

AU - Christensen, Lance E.

AU - Schwenzer, Susanne P.

AU - Navarro-Gonzalez, Rafael

AU - Pla-García, Jorge

AU - Rafkin, Scot C.R.

AU - Vicente-Retortillo, Álvaro

AU - Kahanpää, Henrik

AU - Viudez-Moreiras, Daniel

AU - Smith, Michael D.

AU - Harri, Ari Matti

AU - Genzer, Maria

AU - Hassler, Donald M.

AU - Lemmon, Mark

AU - Crisp, Joy

AU - Sander, Stanley P.

AU - Zurek, Richard W.

AU - Vasavada, Ashwin R.

PY - 2018/6/8

Y1 - 2018/6/8

N2 - Variable levels of methane in the martian atmosphere have eluded explanation partly because the measurements are not repeatable in time or location.We report in situ measurements at Gale crater made over a 5-year period by the Tunable Laser Spectrometer on the Curiosity rover.The background levels of methane have a mean value 0.41 ± 0.16 parts per billion by volume (ppbv) (95% confidence interval) and exhibit a strong, repeatable seasonal variation (0.24 to 0.65 ppbv).This variation is greater than that predicted from either ultraviolet degradation of impact-delivered organics on the surface or from the annual surface pressure cycle.The large seasonal variation in the background and occurrences of higher temporary spikes (∼7 ppbv) are consistent with small localized sources of methane released from martian surface or subsurface reservoirs.

AB - Variable levels of methane in the martian atmosphere have eluded explanation partly because the measurements are not repeatable in time or location.We report in situ measurements at Gale crater made over a 5-year period by the Tunable Laser Spectrometer on the Curiosity rover.The background levels of methane have a mean value 0.41 ± 0.16 parts per billion by volume (ppbv) (95% confidence interval) and exhibit a strong, repeatable seasonal variation (0.24 to 0.65 ppbv).This variation is greater than that predicted from either ultraviolet degradation of impact-delivered organics on the surface or from the annual surface pressure cycle.The large seasonal variation in the background and occurrences of higher temporary spikes (∼7 ppbv) are consistent with small localized sources of methane released from martian surface or subsurface reservoirs.

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U2 - 10.1126/science.aaq0131

DO - 10.1126/science.aaq0131

M3 - Article

C2 - 29880682

AN - SCOPUS:85048593070

SN - 0036-8075

VL - 360

SP - 1093

EP - 1096

JO - Science

JF - Science

IS - 6393

ER -

Background levels of methane in Mars' atmosphere show strong seasonal variations

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