Detection of Methane in the Atmosphere of Mars
Top Cited Papers
- 3 December 2004
- journal article
- other
- Published by American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Science
- Vol. 306 (5702) , 1758-1761
- https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1101732
Abstract
We report a detection of methane in the martian atmosphere by the Planetary Fourier Spectrometer onboard the Mars Express spacecraft. The global average methane mixing ratio is found to be 10 ± 5 parts per billion by volume (ppbv). However, the mixing ratio varies between 0 and 30 ppbv over the planet. The source of methane could be either biogenic or nonbiogenic, including past or present subsurface microorganisms, hydrothermal activity, or cometary impacts.Keywords
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