After a thorough analysis of the data from 605 Martian day soles, the Curiosity robot’s laser spectrometer in SAM (Sample Analysis at Mars), the Curiosity robot has clearly detected an episodic increase in methane in Mars’ atmosphere. Could this be a sign that there is life on Mars? The discovery was published in Science by scientists from Mars Science Laboratory (MSL). Citation below. Co-author, Francisco Javier Martin-Torres, works at the Andalusian Institute of Earth Sciences (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas y la Universidad de Granada, CSIC-UGR) in Spain. Martin-Torres stated that the confirmation ends a decade-long debate about the presence methane on Mars. It was initially detected by telescopes at the Mauna Kea Canada–France–Hawaii Observatory. Two Earth years’ worth of data was analyzed by the Mars Curiosity robot. Image: Wikipedia. The discussion intensified as the measurements taken from satellites orbiting Earth correlated. From where does methane originate? There is no question that methane has fluctuated in levels. Mr. Martin Torres believes new research should be done to determine the source of this gas. This could involve some type of biological activity, such as life. Nearly all of the methane found on Earth is produced by biological activity. This latest discovery has raised expectations that Martian methane may also have a similar source. This means that more people are betting on Mars-based life. The previous simulations have shown that methane from Mars would remain on Earth for 300years and spread evenly throughout the atmosphere. Why did Curiosity detect an increase in methane concentrations? Francisco Javier Martin Torres is a Spanish researcher at CSIC. Image: Diario De Burgos. Since no model can explain Methane’s rapid disappearance and generation, Martin-Torres explained that the Sam instrument data was used to analyze the results. SAM’s tunable laser spectrum has detected methane basal levels of approximately 0.7 parts by billion (ppbv) and confirmed an occasional spike of as high as tenfold over a six-day period. In a Science Abstract, the authors write: “In four consecutive measurements over a sol time period (1 sol being a Martian day), we detected elevated levels of methane at 7.2 +-2.1 ppbv CI,” which suggests that Mars has been producing methane in irregular intervals. These new data were based upon observations made in Mars for a period of one year (two Earth years). Curiosity covered 8 km (4. 971 mile) within the Gale Crater basin. Citation: “Mars methane variability and detection at Gale crater”, Christopher R. Webster and Paul R. Mahaffy. Science. 23 January, 2015. Online 16 December 2014. DOI: 10.1126/science. 1261713.
Rising methane levels on Mars raises prospect for life
