http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/20/science/space/mars-rover-comes-up-empty-in-search-for-methane.html?pagewanted=all
Seems that it may also be a bit presumptuous to dismiss entirely other independent detection s made both by Earth based observations, and by an orbiting craft. My question is this: Is Martian clearly understood well enough, or are presumptions on detection by curiosity assumed on the basis of other terrestrial atmosphere's like Earths. Might there be a problem with locality in detecting Martian methane? At least some accounting for previous readings should be made I would assume? Also our present understanding with respect to the distribution of methane on Mars, or what might happen to this over short term cyclic duration s I would assume is very poor at present? Someone mentioned methanogen, or this may be some relationship not yet fully understood either both or separately by way of terrestrial and atmospheric conditions present on Mars. Otherwise, it would seem a false positive should be accounted for here...why observations both terrestrially on Earth, and an Martian orbiter were seeing a similar signature that resembled that of methane but weren't. The other part of this problem is one related to either geological or biological relationships with respect to potential methane sources themselves.
Some key factors for accounting here:
A Martian year is close to 2 Earth years. Its axial tilt at 25 degrees is similar and slightly more then Earth's...with a rotation period approximate to one Earth day. If there is any terrestrial life that were sensitive enough, as possibly suggested by way of the plumes detected, or by some geological process through solar heating, then from the time curiosity has landed to the point of detection has certainly neither spanned a significant duration of time here. Technically less then the equivalent of seasons found on Earth so far. The jury is still out on this...inequities on explanations will be solved as longitudinal data is received...otherwise, rash to dismiss outright possibilities.
http://www.space.com/22862-mars-methane-missing-curiosity-rover.html
Provides some additionally possibilities with respect to why accounting discrepancies may be occurring here.
Seems that it may also be a bit presumptuous to dismiss entirely other independent detection s made both by Earth based observations, and by an orbiting craft. My question is this: Is Martian clearly understood well enough, or are presumptions on detection by curiosity assumed on the basis of other terrestrial atmosphere's like Earths. Might there be a problem with locality in detecting Martian methane? At least some accounting for previous readings should be made I would assume? Also our present understanding with respect to the distribution of methane on Mars, or what might happen to this over short term cyclic duration s I would assume is very poor at present? Someone mentioned methanogen, or this may be some relationship not yet fully understood either both or separately by way of terrestrial and atmospheric conditions present on Mars. Otherwise, it would seem a false positive should be accounted for here...why observations both terrestrially on Earth, and an Martian orbiter were seeing a similar signature that resembled that of methane but weren't. The other part of this problem is one related to either geological or biological relationships with respect to potential methane sources themselves.
Some key factors for accounting here:
A Martian year is close to 2 Earth years. Its axial tilt at 25 degrees is similar and slightly more then Earth's...with a rotation period approximate to one Earth day. If there is any terrestrial life that were sensitive enough, as possibly suggested by way of the plumes detected, or by some geological process through solar heating, then from the time curiosity has landed to the point of detection has certainly neither spanned a significant duration of time here. Technically less then the equivalent of seasons found on Earth so far. The jury is still out on this...inequities on explanations will be solved as longitudinal data is received...otherwise, rash to dismiss outright possibilities.
http://www.space.com/22862-mars-methane-missing-curiosity-rover.html
Provides some additionally possibilities with respect to why accounting discrepancies may be occurring here.
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