Mars Methane at Gale Crater Shows Strong Seasonal Cycle: Updated Results from TLS-SAM on Curiosity

C. R. Webster; P. R. Mahaffy; S. K. Atreya; G. Flesch; C. Malespin; C. McKay; G. Martinez; J. Moores; C. L. Smith; F. J. Martin-Torres; J. Gomez-Elvira; M. P. Zorzano; M. H. Wong; M. G. Trainer; J. L. Eigenbrode; D. P. Glavin; A. Steele; Jr. Archer D.; B. Sutter; P. J. Coll; C. Freissinet; P. Y. Meslin; A. Pavlov; D. Keymeulen; L. E. Christensen; R. V. Gough; S. P. Schwenzer; R. Navarro-Gonzalez; J. Pla-García; S. C. Rafkin; Á. Vicente-Retortillo; H. Kahanpää; D. Viudez-Moreiras; M. D. Smith; A. M. Harri; M. Genzer; D. Hassler; M. T. Lemmon; J. A. Crisp; R. W. Zurek; A. R. Vasavada

Mars Methane at Gale Crater Shows Strong Seasonal Cycle: Updated Results from TLS-SAM on Curiosity

C. R. Webster, P. R. Mahaffy, S. K. Atreya, G. Flesch, C. Malespin, C. McKay, G. Martinez, J. Moores, C. L. Smith, F. J. Martin-Torres, J. Gomez-Elvira, M. P. Zorzano, M. H. Wong, M. G. Trainer, J. L. Eigenbrode, D. P. Glavin, A. Steele, Jr. Archer D., B. Sutter, P. J. CollC. Freissinet, P. Y. Meslin, A. Pavlov, D. Keymeulen, L. E. Christensen, R. V. Gough, S. P. Schwenzer, R. Navarro-Gonzalez, J. Pla-García, S. C. Rafkin, Á. Vicente-Retortillo, H. Kahanpää, D. Viudez-Moreiras, M. D. Smith, A. M. Harri, M. Genzer, D. Hassler, M. T. Lemmon, J. A. Crisp, R. W. Zurek, A. R. Vasavada

Geology and Geophysics

Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract

Abstract

In situ measurements of atmospheric methane have been made over a 5-year period at Gale Crater on Mars using the Tunable Laser Spectrometer (TLS) instrument in the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) suite on the Curiosity rover. We report two important observations: (i) a background level of mean value of 0.41 ±0.11 (2sem) that is about 5 times lower than some model predictions based on generation from UV degradation of micro- meteorites or interplanetary dust delivered to the martian surface; (ii) "spikes" of elevated levels of 7 ppbv attributed to episodic releases from small local sources, probably to the north of Gale crater1. Reports of plumes, patches or episodic releases of methane in the Martian atmosphere have to date eluded explanation in part because of their lack of repeatability in time or location. Our in situ measurements of the background methane levels exhibit a strong, repeatable seasonal variability. The amplitude of the observed seasonal cycle is 3 times greater than both that expected from the annual sublimation and freezing of polar carbon dioxide and that expected from methane production from ultraviolet (UV) degradation of exogenously-delivered surface material. The observed large seasonal variation in the background, and sporadic observations of higher pulses of 7 ppbv appear consistent with localized small sources of methane release from Martian surface reservoirs that may be occurring throughout the planet. We will present our updated data set, correlations of Mars methane with various other measurements from SAM, REMS, RAD and ChemCam instruments on Curiosity, as well as empirical models of UV surface insolation, and provide preliminary interpretation of results. 1 "Mars Methane Detection and Variability at Gale Crater", C. R. Webster et al., Science, 347, 415-417 (2015) and references therein. The research described here was carried out in part at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Original language	English
Publication status	Published - Dec 2017
Event	AGU Fall Meeting 2017 - New Orleans, United States Duration: 11 Dec 2017 → 15 Dec 2017

Conference

Conference	AGU Fall Meeting 2017
Country/Territory	United States
City	New Orleans
Period	11/12/17 → 15/12/17

Keywords

5215 Origin of life
PLANETARY SCIENCES: ASTROBIOLOGY
6225 Mars
PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS
5455 Origin and evolution
PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLID SURFACE PLANETS
5470 Surface materials and properties

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https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017AGUFM.P33F..07WLicence: Unspecified

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Webster, C. R., Mahaffy, P. R., Atreya, S. K., Flesch, G., Malespin, C., McKay, C., Martinez, G., Moores, J., Smith, C. L., Martin-Torres, F. J., Gomez-Elvira, J., Zorzano, M. P., Wong, M. H., Trainer, M. G., Eigenbrode, J. L., Glavin, D. P., Steele, A., Archer D., J., Sutter, B., ... Vasavada, A. R. (2017). Mars Methane at Gale Crater Shows Strong Seasonal Cycle: Updated Results from TLS-SAM on Curiosity. Abstract from AGU Fall Meeting 2017, New Orleans, United States. https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017AGUFM.P33F..07W

Webster, CR, Mahaffy, PR, Atreya, SK, Flesch, G, Malespin, C, McKay, C, Martinez, G, Moores, J, Smith, CL, Martin-Torres, FJ, Gomez-Elvira, J, Zorzano, MP, Wong, MH, Trainer, MG, Eigenbrode, JL, Glavin, DP, Steele, A, Archer D., J, Sutter, B, Coll, PJ, Freissinet, C, Meslin, PY, Pavlov, A, Keymeulen, D, Christensen, LE, Gough, RV, Schwenzer, SP, Navarro-Gonzalez, R, Pla-García, J, Rafkin, SC, Vicente-Retortillo, Á, Kahanpää, H, Viudez-Moreiras, D, Smith, MD, Harri, AM, Genzer, M, Hassler, D, Lemmon, MT, Crisp, JA, Zurek, RW & Vasavada, AR 2017, 'Mars Methane at Gale Crater Shows Strong Seasonal Cycle: Updated Results from TLS-SAM on Curiosity', AGU Fall Meeting 2017, New Orleans, United States, 11/12/17 - 15/12/17. <https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017AGUFM.P33F..07W>

@conference{40a1447b388c4ff4af9337376e65d079,

title = "Mars Methane at Gale Crater Shows Strong Seasonal Cycle: Updated Results from TLS-SAM on Curiosity",

abstract = "In situ measurements of atmospheric methane have been made over a 5-year period at Gale Crater on Mars using the Tunable Laser Spectrometer (TLS) instrument in the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) suite on the Curiosity rover. We report two important observations: (i) a background level of mean value of 0.41 ±0.11 (2sem) that is about 5 times lower than some model predictions based on generation from UV degradation of micro- meteorites or interplanetary dust delivered to the martian surface; (ii) {"}spikes{"} of elevated levels of 7 ppbv attributed to episodic releases from small local sources, probably to the north of Gale crater1. Reports of plumes, patches or episodic releases of methane in the Martian atmosphere have to date eluded explanation in part because of their lack of repeatability in time or location. Our in situ measurements of the background methane levels exhibit a strong, repeatable seasonal variability. The amplitude of the observed seasonal cycle is 3 times greater than both that expected from the annual sublimation and freezing of polar carbon dioxide and that expected from methane production from ultraviolet (UV) degradation of exogenously-delivered surface material. The observed large seasonal variation in the background, and sporadic observations of higher pulses of 7 ppbv appear consistent with localized small sources of methane release from Martian surface reservoirs that may be occurring throughout the planet. We will present our updated data set, correlations of Mars methane with various other measurements from SAM, REMS, RAD and ChemCam instruments on Curiosity, as well as empirical models of UV surface insolation, and provide preliminary interpretation of results. 1 {"}Mars Methane Detection and Variability at Gale Crater{"}, C. R. Webster et al., Science, 347, 415-417 (2015) and references therein. The research described here was carried out in part at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). ",

keywords = "5215 Origin of life, PLANETARY SCIENCES: ASTROBIOLOGY, 6225 Mars, PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS, 5455 Origin and evolution, PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLID SURFACE PLANETS, 5470 Surface materials and properties",

author = "Webster, {C. R.} and Mahaffy, {P. R.} and Atreya, {S. K.} and G. Flesch and C. Malespin and C. McKay and G. Martinez and J. Moores and Smith, {C. L.} and Martin-Torres, {F. J.} and J. Gomez-Elvira and Zorzano, {M. P.} and Wong, {M. H.} and Trainer, {M. G.} and Eigenbrode, {J. L.} and Glavin, {D. P.} and A. Steele and {Archer D.}, Jr. and B. Sutter and Coll, {P. J.} and C. Freissinet and Meslin, {P. Y.} and A. Pavlov and D. Keymeulen and Christensen, {L. E.} and Gough, {R. V.} and Schwenzer, {S. P.} and R. Navarro-Gonzalez and J. Pla-Garc{\'i}a and Rafkin, {S. C.} and {\'A}. Vicente-Retortillo and H. Kahanp{\"a}{\"a} and D. Viudez-Moreiras and Smith, {M. D.} and Harri, {A. M.} and M. Genzer and D. Hassler and Lemmon, {M. T.} and Crisp, {J. A.} and Zurek, {R. W.} and Vasavada, {A. R.}",

note = "Abstract #P33F-07; AGU Fall Meeting 2017 ; Conference date: 11-12-2017 Through 15-12-2017",

year = "2017",

month = dec,

language = "English",

}

TY - CONF

T1 - Mars Methane at Gale Crater Shows Strong Seasonal Cycle

T2 - AGU Fall Meeting 2017

AU - Webster, C. R.

AU - Mahaffy, P. R.

AU - Atreya, S. K.

AU - Flesch, G.

AU - Malespin, C.

AU - McKay, C.

AU - Martinez, G.

AU - Moores, J.

AU - Smith, C. L.

AU - Martin-Torres, F. J.

AU - Gomez-Elvira, J.

AU - Zorzano, M. P.

AU - Wong, M. H.

AU - Trainer, M. G.

AU - Eigenbrode, J. L.

AU - Glavin, D. P.

AU - Steele, A.

AU - Archer D., Jr.

AU - Sutter, B.

AU - Coll, P. J.

AU - Freissinet, C.

AU - Meslin, P. Y.

AU - Pavlov, A.

AU - Keymeulen, D.

AU - Christensen, L. E.

AU - Gough, R. V.

AU - Schwenzer, S. P.

AU - Navarro-Gonzalez, R.

AU - Pla-García, J.

AU - Rafkin, S. C.

AU - Vicente-Retortillo, Á.

AU - Kahanpää, H.

AU - Viudez-Moreiras, D.

AU - Smith, M. D.

AU - Harri, A. M.

AU - Genzer, M.

AU - Hassler, D.

AU - Lemmon, M. T.

AU - Crisp, J. A.

AU - Zurek, R. W.

AU - Vasavada, A. R.

N1 - Abstract #P33F-07

PY - 2017/12

Y1 - 2017/12

N2 - In situ measurements of atmospheric methane have been made over a 5-year period at Gale Crater on Mars using the Tunable Laser Spectrometer (TLS) instrument in the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) suite on the Curiosity rover. We report two important observations: (i) a background level of mean value of 0.41 ±0.11 (2sem) that is about 5 times lower than some model predictions based on generation from UV degradation of micro- meteorites or interplanetary dust delivered to the martian surface; (ii) "spikes" of elevated levels of 7 ppbv attributed to episodic releases from small local sources, probably to the north of Gale crater1. Reports of plumes, patches or episodic releases of methane in the Martian atmosphere have to date eluded explanation in part because of their lack of repeatability in time or location. Our in situ measurements of the background methane levels exhibit a strong, repeatable seasonal variability. The amplitude of the observed seasonal cycle is 3 times greater than both that expected from the annual sublimation and freezing of polar carbon dioxide and that expected from methane production from ultraviolet (UV) degradation of exogenously-delivered surface material. The observed large seasonal variation in the background, and sporadic observations of higher pulses of 7 ppbv appear consistent with localized small sources of methane release from Martian surface reservoirs that may be occurring throughout the planet. We will present our updated data set, correlations of Mars methane with various other measurements from SAM, REMS, RAD and ChemCam instruments on Curiosity, as well as empirical models of UV surface insolation, and provide preliminary interpretation of results. 1 "Mars Methane Detection and Variability at Gale Crater", C. R. Webster et al., Science, 347, 415-417 (2015) and references therein. The research described here was carried out in part at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

AB - In situ measurements of atmospheric methane have been made over a 5-year period at Gale Crater on Mars using the Tunable Laser Spectrometer (TLS) instrument in the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) suite on the Curiosity rover. We report two important observations: (i) a background level of mean value of 0.41 ±0.11 (2sem) that is about 5 times lower than some model predictions based on generation from UV degradation of micro- meteorites or interplanetary dust delivered to the martian surface; (ii) "spikes" of elevated levels of 7 ppbv attributed to episodic releases from small local sources, probably to the north of Gale crater1. Reports of plumes, patches or episodic releases of methane in the Martian atmosphere have to date eluded explanation in part because of their lack of repeatability in time or location. Our in situ measurements of the background methane levels exhibit a strong, repeatable seasonal variability. The amplitude of the observed seasonal cycle is 3 times greater than both that expected from the annual sublimation and freezing of polar carbon dioxide and that expected from methane production from ultraviolet (UV) degradation of exogenously-delivered surface material. The observed large seasonal variation in the background, and sporadic observations of higher pulses of 7 ppbv appear consistent with localized small sources of methane release from Martian surface reservoirs that may be occurring throughout the planet. We will present our updated data set, correlations of Mars methane with various other measurements from SAM, REMS, RAD and ChemCam instruments on Curiosity, as well as empirical models of UV surface insolation, and provide preliminary interpretation of results. 1 "Mars Methane Detection and Variability at Gale Crater", C. R. Webster et al., Science, 347, 415-417 (2015) and references therein. The research described here was carried out in part at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

KW - 5215 Origin of life

KW - PLANETARY SCIENCES: ASTROBIOLOGY

KW - 6225 Mars

KW - PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS

KW - 5455 Origin and evolution

KW - PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLID SURFACE PLANETS

KW - 5470 Surface materials and properties

M3 - Abstract

Y2 - 11 December 2017 through 15 December 2017

ER -

Mars Methane at Gale Crater Shows Strong Seasonal Cycle: Updated Results from TLS-SAM on Curiosity

Abstract

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