The factual accuracy of part of this article is disputed. The dispute is about The current best data collected, by Trace Gas Orbiter, shows no Methane. Previous detections might have been erroneous. Please help to ensure that disputed statements are reliably sourced. See the relevant discussion on the talk page.(September 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
The source of Mars methane is unknown; its detection is shown here.
The reported presence of methane in the atmosphere of Mars is of interest to many geologists and astrobiologists,[1] as methane may indicate the presence of microbial life on Mars, or a geochemical process such as volcanism or hydrothermal activity.[2][3][4][5][6][7]
Since 2004, trace amounts of methane (range from 60 ppbv to under detection limit (< 0.05 ppbv)) have been reported in various missions and observational studies.[8][9][10][11][12] The source of methane on Mars and the explanation for the enormous discrepancy in the observed methane concentrations are still unknown and are under study.[1][13] Whenever methane is detected, it is rapidly removed from the atmosphere by an efficient, yet unknown process.[14]
^ abYung, Yuk L.; Chen, Pin; Nealson, Kenneth; Atreya, Sushil; Beckett, Patrick; Blank, Jennifer G.; Ehlmann, Bethany; Eiler, John; Etiope, Giuseppe (2018-09-19). "Methane on Mars and Habitability: Challenges and Responses". Astrobiology. 18 (10): 1221–1242. Bibcode:2018AsBio..18.1221Y. doi:10.1089/ast.2018.1917. ISSN 1531-1074. PMC 6205098. PMID 30234380.
^"Making Sense of Mars' Methane". Astrobiology Magazine. June 2008. Archived from the original on 2012-05-31.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^Steigerwald, Bill (15 January 2009). "Martian Methane Reveals the Red Planet is not a Dead Planet". NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. NASA. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
^Howe, K. L.; Gavin, P.; Goodhart, T.; Kral, T. A. (2009). Methane Production by Methanogens in Perchlorate-Supplemented Media(PDF). 40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.
^Levin, Gilbert V.; Straat, Patricia Ann (3 September 2009). "Methane and life on Mars". Proc. SPIE. Proceedings of SPIE. 7441 (74410D): 74410D. Bibcode:2009SPIE.7441E..0DL. doi:10.1117/12.829183. S2CID 73595154.
^Potter, Sean (2018-06-07). "NASA Finds Ancient Organic Material, Mysterious Methane on Mars". NASA. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
^Formisano, Vittorio; Atreya, Sushil; Encrenaz, Thérèse; Ignatiev, Nikolai; Giuranna, Marco (2004-12-03). "Detection of Methane in the Atmosphere of Mars". Science. 306 (5702): 1758–1761. Bibcode:2004Sci...306.1758F. doi:10.1126/science.1101732. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 15514118. S2CID 13533388.
^Mumma, M. J.; Villanueva, G. L.; Novak, R. E.; Hewagama, T.; Bonev, B. P.; DiSanti, M. A.; Mandell, A. M.; Smith, M. D. (2009-02-20). "Strong Release of Methane on Mars in Northern Summer 2003". Science. 323 (5917): 1041–1045. Bibcode:2009Sci...323.1041M. doi:10.1126/science.1165243. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 19150811. S2CID 25083438.
^Cite error: The named reference :36 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Vasavada, Ashwin R.; Zurek, Richard W.; Sander, Stanley P.; Crisp, Joy; Lemmon, Mark; Hassler, Donald M.; Genzer, Maria; Harri, Ari-Matti; Smith, Michael D. (2018-06-08). "Background levels of methane in Mars' atmosphere show strong seasonal variations". Science. 360 (6393): 1093–1096. Bibcode:2018Sci...360.1093W. doi:10.1126/science.aaq0131. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 29880682.
^Cite error: The named reference :37 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^esa. "The methane mystery". European Space Agency. Retrieved 2019-06-07.
^Etiope, Giuseppe; Oehler, Dorothy Z. (2019). "Methane spikes, background seasonality and non-detections on Mars: A geological perspective". Planetary and Space Science. 168: 52–61. Bibcode:2019P&SS..168...52E. doi:10.1016/j.pss.2019.02.001. S2CID 127748445.
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