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Detección de metano en la atmósfera de Marte
Vittorio Formisano1, Sushil Atreya, Thérèse Encrenaz
1Istituto di Fisica dello Spazio Interplanetario INAF-IFSI, Via del Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy. formisan@nike.ifsi.rm.cnr.it
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|October 30, 2004
Resumen
El metano se ha detectado en la atmósfera de Marte, con niveles que varían significativamente en todo el planeta. Este descubrimiento abre posibilidades tanto para fuentes biológicas como geológicas de metano marciano.
Área de la Ciencia:
- Ciencias planetarias Ciencias planetarias.
- Astrobiología Astrobiología.
- Química atmosférica La química atmosférica es la química de la atmósfera.
Sus antecedentes:
- El metano es un potencial gas de biosignatura.
- Las detecciones anteriores de metano en Marte han sido tentativas.
- Comprender las fuentes de metano es clave para evaluar la habitabilidad marciana.
Objetivo del estudio:
- Para informar de la detección de metano en la atmósfera marciana.
- Para cuantificar el promedio global y la variabilidad del metano.
- Para discutir las fuentes potenciales de metano marciano.
Principales métodos:
- Utilizó el espectrómetro planetario de Fourier (PFS) a bordo de la nave espacial Mars Express.
- Se analizaron datos espectrales para identificar y cuantificar las características de absorción de metano.
- Mapeó la distribución del metano a través de la superficie marciana.
Principales resultados:
- Confirmó la presencia de metano en la atmósfera marciana.
- Se determinó una relación de mezcla de metano promedio global de 10 +/- 5 partes por mil millones en volumen (ppbv).
- Se observó una variabilidad espacial significativa, con relaciones de mezcla que oscilan entre 0 y 30 ppbv.
Conclusiones:
- El metano detectado sugiere una actividad geológica o potencialmente biológica en curso en Marte.
- Las fuentes potenciales incluyen vida microbiana, procesos hidrotermales o impactos extraterrestres.
- Se requiere más investigación para determinar el origen del metano marciano.
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