Fluctuations in atmospheric pressure may be the driving force behind the release of subsurface methane into Mars' atmosphere, according to recent research published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.
This revelation could be crucial for the Curiosity rover's mission to uncover signs of past or present life on the Red Planet as researchers gain insights into when and where to search for this elusive gas.
Methane pulses occurring just before Martian sunrise
The study, led by John Ortiz, a Los Alamos National Laboratory graduate student, sheds light on the challenges NASA's Curiosity team faced in understanding Mars' methane variations. Ortiz emphasizes that comprehending these variations is key to unraveling the mystery of methane's origin on Mars.
