跳转到内容

火星甲烷

维基百科,自由的百科全书
火星上来源不明的甲烷,这里显示了在北半球夏季检测到的甲烷,含量为十亿分率体积,红色代表最高,黑色代表最低。

火星大气层中存在甲烷的报导引起了很多地质学家天体生物学家的关注[1],因为甲烷可能表明火星上存在有微生物生命,或地球化学作用,如火山热液活动[2][3][4][5][6][7]

2004 年以来,各种探测任务和观察研究都报告了痕量甲烷,范围从60ppbv到低于检测限值(< 0.05 ppbv)不等[8][9][10][11][12]。火星上的甲烷来源以及所观测到甲烷浓度出现巨大差异的原因尚不清楚,目前还处于研究之中[1][13]。无论何时检测到甲烷,它都会通过一种高效但未知的过程迅速从大气中消失[14]

探测史

[编辑]
甲烷(CH4)分子模型

甲烷(CH4)在当前火星的氧化性大气层中化学性质并不稳定,由于太阳紫外线辐射及与其他气体的化学反应,它会很快分解。因此,大气层中甲烷持续或间歇的出现可能意味着存在持续的补充气源。

欧空局火星快车号轨道器使用行星傅里叶光谱仪测得了大气层中甲烷的首个证据[15]。2004年3月,火星快车号科学团队提出大气层中存在的甲烷浓度约为10ppbv[16][17][18][19],这一点很快得到三支地基望远镜小组的证实,尽管在2003年和2006年的观测中所测量到的甲烷丰度出现了巨大差异。火星甲烷的这种时空差异表明该气体集中于局部地区并且有可能是季节性的[20],据估计,火星每年产生270吨甲烷[21][22]

2011年,美国宇航局科学家报告,利用高纬度地面观测站(甚大望远镜凯克望远镜Ⅱ美国宇航局红外望远镜)的高分辨率红外光谱望远镜对火星上的痕量物质(包括甲烷)进行了全面搜索,得出了甲烷(<7 ppbv)、乙烷(<0.2 ppbv)、甲醇(<19 ppbv)和其他物质(甲醛乙炔乙烯一氧化二氮氰化氢氯仿氯化氢超氧化氢–所有极限值均为十亿分之体积单位水平)的敏感上限[23]

好奇号探测车检测到大气层中甲烷的周期性季节变化。

2012年8月,好奇号漫游车登陆火星,它搭载的仪器能够进行精确的丰度测量,但不能辨别甲烷中的不同同位素,因此无法确定其来源是地质性的还是生物性 [24]。但火星微量气体任务卫星(TGO)可测量这些比率并指出它们的来源[15]

2012年,好奇号的可调谐激光光谱仪(TLS)首次测量表明,着陆点地区没有甲烷,或低于5ppbv单位[25][26][27],后来计算出的最低值为0.3至0.7ppbv之间[28]。2013年,美国宇航局的科学家再次报告说,没有检测到超过最低值的甲烷[29][30][31]。但在2014年,美国宇航局报告说,好奇号探测车在2013年末和2014年初检测到其周围大气层中的甲烷含量增加了10倍(“峰值”)[10]。在此期间的两个月内,四次测量获得的平均值为7.2ppbv,这意味着火星正在从未知来源间歇性地产生或释放甲烷[10]。而在此前后,平均读数约只为该水平的十分之一。

2018年6月7日,美国宇航局宣布确认大气层甲烷背景水平存在周期性季节变化[32][33][10]。在2019年6月底的一次事件中,好奇号探测车原位检测到的最大甲烷浓度达到21 ppbv[34][35]。在“好奇号”探测到甲烷前20小时,以及探测后24小时和48小时,“火星快车号”轨道飞行器碰巧在该区域进行了定点跟踪[15],而火星微量气体任务卫星也差不多同时在更高的纬度进行大气观测[15]

印度火星轨道探测器于2014年9月24日进入火星轨道,该卫星配备了测量大气层甲烷的法布里-佩罗干涉仪,但进入火星轨道后,确定它无法探测到甲烷[36][37]:57。因此,该仪器被改用于测绘反照率地图[36][38]。截至2019年4月,火星微量气体任务卫星显示火星甲烷浓度低于可检测水平(<0.05 ppbv)[12][19]

毅力号”火星车(2021年2月着陆)和罗莎琳德·富兰克林号火星车(定于2023年)都将不配备分析大气甲烷及其同位素的设备[39][40],所以,计划于21世纪30年代中期进行的火星采样返回任务似乎是能够分析样本以区分地质来源和生物来源的最早任务[40]

可能来源

[编辑]
火星上可能的甲烷来源和沉没。

地质成因

[编辑]

火星甲烷来源的主要候选因素包括非生物作用过程,如-岩反应、水的辐解黄铁矿的形成,所有这些过程都会产生氢气,然后通过费托合成,与一氧化碳二氧化碳生成甲烷和其他碳氢化合物[41]。研究还表明,甲烷可通过与水、二氧化碳和火星上很常见的橄榄石矿物等相关的作用过程产生[42],这种反应所需的条件(即高温和高压)虽不存在于表面,但可能存在于地壳内[43][44]。对矿物副产物的蛇纹岩检测表明,这一过程正在发生。地球上的模拟表明,在火星上,有可能从蛇纹岩中低温产生和散发出甲烷[45]。另一种可能的地质来源是偶尔从包裹在笼形水合物中释放出来的古代甲烷[46]。在火星早期寒冷环境的假设下,冰雪圈可能将捕获的甲烷以稳定的包合物形态保存在深处,之后表现为零星的释放[47]

在现代地球上,火山活动是甲烷排放的次要来源[48],并通常伴有二氧化硫气体。然而,对火星大气层中微量气体的若干研究并未发现有二氧化硫存在的证据,这使得火星的火山活动不太可能成为甲烷的来源[49][50]。尽管甲烷的地质来源,,如蛇纹岩化是可能的,但目前火山作用热液活动热点[51]的缺乏并不倾向地质成因。

也有人提出,进入火星大气层的陨石可能会补充甲烷[52],但伦敦帝国理工学院的研究人员发现,以这种方式释放的甲烷量太低,无法维持所测量到的甲烷水平[53]。有人认为,甲烷是陨石在进入大气层时,受强烈热量驱动产生的化学反应所致。虽然2009年12月发表的研究排除了这一可能性[54],但2012年发表的研究表明,甲烷可能来源于陨石上的有机化合物,这些化合物通过紫外线辐射可转化为甲烷[55]

实验室测试表明,当放电与水冰和二氧化碳相互作用时,会产生甲烷爆发[56][57]。沙尘暴和尘卷风中的带电尘埃颗粒与永久冻土冰接触产生的放电,每焦耳应用能量可产生约1.41×1016个甲烷分子[56]

目前的光化学模型无法解释火星甲烷水平明显快速变化[58][59]。研究表明,甲烷消失过程长约4个地球年,短则0.6个地球年[60][61],这种无法解释的快速消失率也表明了有一种非常活跃的补充源[62]意大利国立天体物理研究所的一组研究人员推测好奇号火星车探测到的甲烷可能是从盖尔撞击坑以东约500公里附近的梅杜莎槽沟层区释放出来的,该地区可能是一处缘于火山成因的断裂带 [63]

生物成因

[编辑]

活体微生物,如产甲烷菌,是另一种可能的来源,但没有证据表明火星上存在这种微生物。在地球海洋中,生物甲烷的产生往往伴随有乙烷C
2
H
6
)的产生,而长期的地面光谱观测并未在火星大气层中发现这些有机分子[23]。鉴于其中一些分子的预期寿命很长,火星上生物有机物的排放似乎极为罕见,或者目前根本不存在[23]

通过与氢反应将二氧化碳还原为甲烷,可表示为:

(∆G˚' = -134 千焦/摩尔 CH4)

二氧化碳与氢气反应生成甲烷,同时在细胞膜上形成电化学梯度,用于通过化学渗透生成三磷酸腺苷。相比之下,植物藻类可从光合作用气中直接获取能量。

测量火星上和甲烷含量的比率可有助于确定火星生命存在的可能性[64][65][66]。大气层中氢/甲烷比率较低(约小于40)可能表明大气中的甲烷大部分可归因于生物活动[64],但在火星低层大气层中观测到的比率高出“大约10倍”,这“表明生物过程可能不是观测到的甲烷成因”[64]

自2003年在大气层中发现甲烷以来,一些科学家一直在设计模型和进行试管实验,以测试产甲烷细菌在模拟火星土壤中的生长情况。在模拟土壤中,即便存在1wt%(重量百分比)的高氯酸盐[67],所有测试的四种产甲烷菌株全都产生了大量甲烷。产甲烷菌不需要氧气或有机营养物,不进行光合作用,使用氢气作为能源,二氧化碳(CO2)作为碳源,因此它们可以存在于火星的地下环境中[68]。如果火星上的微生物正在产生甲烷,那么甲烷可能就存在于地表以下很深的地方,那里的温度仍足以让液态水保持存在[69]

2015年阿肯色大学发表的研究表明,一些甲烷菌可在类似地下液体含水层的火星低压环境中生存,测试的四种细菌分别为:

吉尔伯特·莱文领导的研究小组认为,甲烷的产生和降解现象都可用产生和消耗甲烷的微生物生态学来解释[4][70]

即使火星车任务探明火星微生物生命是甲烷的季节性来源,这些生命形式也可能居住在火星车无法触及到的地表之下[71]

可能的沉没

[编辑]

最初认为甲烷在紫外线辐射的氧化性大气层中化学性质不稳定,因此,它在火星大气中的寿命应为400年左右[13],但2014年得出结论,强烈的甲烷沉降并不受大气氧化的影响,表明地表存在一种有效的物理化学过程,会“消耗”甲烷,通常称之为“沉没”[72][73]

一种假说推测甲烷根本不会被消耗,而是从笼形复合物中季节性地冷凝和蒸发[74];另一种假设则是甲烷与地表上翻滚的石英砂(二氧化硅)和橄榄石反应,形成共价硅–甲基键[75]。研究表明,在侵蚀过程中,这些固体会被氧化,气体会被电离。因此,电离甲烷与矿物表面发生反应并与之结合[76][77]

图集

[编辑]

另请查看

[编辑]

参考文献

[编辑]
  1. ^ 1.0 1.1 Yung, Yuk L.; Chen, Pin; Nealson, Kenneth; Atreya, Sushil; Beckett, Patrick; Blank, Jennifer G.; Ehlmann, Bethany; Eiler, John; Etiope, Giuseppe. Methane on Mars and Habitability: Challenges and Responses. Astrobiology. 2018-09-19, 18 (10): 1221–1242. Bibcode:2018AsBio..18.1221Y. ISSN 1531-1074. PMC 6205098可免费查阅. PMID 30234380. doi:10.1089/ast.2018.1917. 
  2. ^ Making Sense of Mars' Methane. Astrobio.net. June 2008 [2021-10-14]. (原始内容存档于2008-09-23). 
  3. ^ Steigerwald, Bill. Martian Methane Reveals the Red Planet is not a Dead Planet. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (NASA). 2009-01-15 [2009-01-24]. (原始内容存档于2009-01-16). 
  4. ^ 4.0 4.1 Howe, K. L.; Gavin, P.; Goodhart, T.; Kral, T. A. Methane Production by Methanogens in Perchlorate-Supplemented Media. (PDF). 40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. 2009 [2021-10-14]. (原始内容存档 (PDF)于2016-06-10). 
  5. ^ Levin, Gilbert V.; Straat, Patricia Ann. Methane and life on Mars. Proc. SPIE. Proceedings of SPIE. 2009-09-03, 7441 (74410D): 74410D. Bibcode:2009SPIE.7441E..0DL. S2CID 73595154. doi:10.1117/12.829183. 
  6. ^ Potter, Sean. NASA Finds Ancient Organic Material, Mysterious Methane on Mars. NASA. 2018-06-07 [2019-06-06]. (原始内容存档于2021-07-01). 
  7. ^ Witze, Alexandra. Mars scientists edge closer to solving methane mystery. Nature. 2018-10-25, 563 (7729): 18–19. Bibcode:2018Natur.563...18W. PMID 30377322. doi:10.1038/d41586-018-07177-4可免费查阅. 
  8. ^ Formisano, Vittorio; Atreya, Sushil; Encrenaz, Thérèse; Ignatiev, Nikolai; Giuranna, Marco. Detection of Methane in the Atmosphere of Mars. Science. 2004-12-03, 306 (5702): 1758–1761. Bibcode:2004Sci...306.1758F. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 15514118. S2CID 13533388. doi:10.1126/science.1101732. 
  9. ^ Mumma, M. J.; Villanueva, G. L.; Novak, R. E.; Hewagama, T.; Bonev, B. P.; DiSanti, M. A.; Mandell, A. M.; Smith, M. D. Strong Release of Methane on Mars in Northern Summer 2003. Science. 2009-02-20, 323 (5917): 1041–1045. Bibcode:2009Sci...323.1041M. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 19150811. S2CID 25083438. doi:10.1126/science.1165243. 
  10. ^ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Webster, C. R.; Mahaffy, P. R.; Atreya, S. K.; Flesch, G. J.; Mischna, M. A.; Meslin, P.-Y.; Farley, K. A.; Conrad, P. G.; Christensen, L. E. Mars methane detection and variability at Gale crater (PDF). Science. 2015-01-23, 347 (6220): 415–417 [Published online 16 December 2014] [2021-10-14]. Bibcode:2015Sci...347..415W. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 25515120. S2CID 20304810. doi:10.1126/science.1261713. (原始内容存档 (PDF)于2021-07-17). 
  11. ^ Vasavada, Ashwin R.; Zurek, Richard W.; Sander, Stanley P.; Crisp, Joy; Lemmon, Mark; Hassler, Donald M.; Genzer, Maria; Harri, Ari-Matti; Smith, Michael D. Background levels of methane in Mars' atmosphere show strong seasonal variations. Science. 2018-06-08, 360 (6393): 1093–1096. Bibcode:2018Sci...360.1093W. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 29880682. doi:10.1126/science.aaq0131可免费查阅. 
  12. ^ 12.0 12.1 Vago, Jorge L.; Svedhem, Håkan; Zelenyi, Lev; Etiope, Giuseppe; Wilson, Colin F.; López-Moreno, Jose-Juan; Bellucci, Giancarlo; Patel, Manish R.; Neefs, Eddy. No detection of methane on Mars from early ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter observations (PDF). Nature. April 2019, 568 (7753): 517–520 [2021-10-14]. Bibcode:2019Natur.568..517K. ISSN 1476-4687. PMID 30971829. S2CID 106411228. doi:10.1038/s41586-019-1096-4. (原始内容存档 (PDF)于2020-09-27). 
  13. ^ 13.0 13.1 esa. The methane mystery. European Space Agency. [2019-06-07]. (原始内容存档于2019-09-11). 
  14. ^ Etiope, Giuseppe; Oehler, Dorothy Z. Methane spikes, background seasonality and non-detections on Mars: A geological perspective. Planetary and Space Science. 2019, 168: 52–61. Bibcode:2019P&SS..168...52E. doi:10.1016/j.pss.2019.02.001. 
  15. ^ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Is Mars' Methane Spike a Sign of Life? Here's How We'll Know.页面存档备份,存于互联网档案馆) Daniel Oberhaus, Wired. 24 June 2019.
  16. ^ Krasnopolskya, V. A.; Maillard, J. P.; Owen, T. C. Detection of methane in the Martian atmosphere: evidence for life?. Icarus. 2004, 172 (2): 537–547. Bibcode:2004Icar..172..537K. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2004.07.004. 
  17. ^ Formisano, V.; Atreya, S.; Encrenaz, T.; Ignatiev, N.; Giuranna, M. Detection of Methane in the Atmosphere of Mars. Science. 2004, 306 (5702): 1758–1761. Bibcode:2004Sci...306.1758F. PMID 15514118. S2CID 13533388. doi:10.1126/science.1101732. 
  18. ^ ESA Press release. Mars Express confirms methane in the Martian atmosphere. XMM-Newton Press Release (ESA). 2004: 80 [2006-03-17]. Bibcode:2004xmm..pres...80.. (原始内容存档于2006-02-24). 
  19. ^ 19.0 19.1 esa. First results from the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. European Space Agency. [2019-06-12]. (原始内容存档于2019-10-13). 
  20. ^ Hand, Eric. Mars methane rises and falls with the seasons. Science. 2018, 359 (6371): 16–17. Bibcode:2018Sci...359...16H. PMID 29301992. doi:10.1126/science.359.6371.16. 
  21. ^ Krasnopolsky, Vladimir A. Some problems related to the origin of methane on Mars. Icarus. 2006, 180 (2): 359–67. Bibcode:2006Icar..180..359K. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2005.10.015. 
  22. ^ Planetary Fourier Spectrometer website. Mars Express. ESA. (原始内容存档于2013-05-02).  needs a more specific reference[查证请求]
  23. ^ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Villanueva, G. L.; Mumma, M. J.; Novak, R. E.; Radeva, Y. L.; Käufl, H. U.; Smette, A.; Tokunaga, A.; Khayat, A.; Encrenaz, T.; Hartogh, P. A sensitive search for organics (CH4, CH3OH, H2CO, C2H6, C2H2, C2H4), hydroperoxyl (HO2), nitrogen compounds (N2O, NH3, HCN) and chlorine species (HCl, CH3Cl) on Mars using ground-based high-resolution infrared spectroscopy. Icarus. 2013, 223 (1): 11–27 [2021-10-14]. Bibcode:2013Icar..223...11V. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2012.11.013. (原始内容存档于2021-10-29). 
  24. ^ Curiosity Detects Unusually High Methane Levels.页面存档备份,存于互联网档案馆) Andrew Good, NASA. Press release on 23 June 2019.
  25. ^ Kerr, Richard A. Curiosity Finds Methane on Mars, or Not. Science. 2012-11-02 [2012-11-03]. (原始内容存档于2012-11-05). 
  26. ^ Wall, Mike. Curiosity Rover Finds No Methane on Mars — Yet. Space.com. 2012-11-02 [2012-11-03]. (原始内容存档于2012-11-04). 
  27. ^ Chang, Kenneth. Hope of Methane on Mars Fades. The New York Times. 2012-11-02 [2012-11-03]. (原始内容存档于2019-06-08). 
  28. ^ On Mars, atmospheric methane—a sign of life on Earth—changes mysteriously with the seasons (页面存档备份,存于互联网档案馆). Eric Hand, Science Magazine. 3 January 2018.
  29. ^ Webster, Christopher R.; Mahaffy, Paul R.; Atreya, Sushil K.; Flesch, Gregory J.; Farley, Kenneth A. Low Upper Limit to Methane Abundance on Mars (PDF). Science. 2013-09-19, 342 (6156): 355–357 [2021-10-14]. Bibcode:2013Sci...342..355W. PMID 24051245. S2CID 43194305. doi:10.1126/science.1242902. (原始内容存档 (PDF)于2018-07-24). 
  30. ^ Cho, Adrian. Mars Rover Finds No Evidence of Burps and Farts. Science. 2013-09-19 [2013-09-19]. (原始内容存档于2013-09-20). 
  31. ^ Chang, Kenneth. Mars Rover Comes Up Empty in Search for Methane. The New York Times. 2013-09-19 [2013-09-19]. (原始内容存档于2019-05-03). 
  32. ^ Webster, Guy; Neal-Jones, Nancy; Brown, Dwayne. NASA Rover Finds Active and Ancient Organic Chemistry on Mars. NASA. 2014-12-16 [2014-12-16]. (原始内容存档于2014-12-17). 
  33. ^ Chang, Kenneth. 'A Great Moment': Rover Finds Clue That Mars May Harbor Life. The New York Times. 2014-12-16 [2014-12-16]. (原始内容存档于2014-12-16). 
  34. ^ Good, Andrew; Johnson, Alana. Curiosity Detects Unusually High Methane Levels. NASA. 2019-06-23 [2019-06-23]. (原始内容存档于2021-10-29). 
  35. ^ Chang, Kenneth. NASA Rover on Mars Detects Puff of Gas That Hints at Possibility of Life - The Curiosity mission's scientists picked up the signal this week, and are seeking additional readings from the red planet.. The New York Times. 2019-06-22 [2019-06-22]. (原始内容存档于2022-01-08). 
  36. ^ 36.0 36.1 India's Mars Orbiter Mission Has a Methane Problem页面存档备份,存于互联网档案馆). Irene Klotz, Seeker, 7 December 2016.
  37. ^ Lele, Ajey. Mission Mars: India's Quest for the Red Planet. Springer. 2014. ISBN 978-81-322-1520-2. 
  38. ^ Global Albedo Map of Mars页面存档备份,存于互联网档案馆). ISRO. 2017-07-14
  39. ^ The enigma of methane on Mars. European Space Agency. 2016-05-02 [2018-01-13]. (原始内容存档于2019-03-08). 
  40. ^ 40.0 40.1 Koren, Marina. A Startling Spike on Mars - Methane gas is a potential indicator of life on the red planet, but it's proving difficult to track.. The Atlantic. 2019-07-03 [2019-07-03]. (原始内容存档于2021-10-29). 
  41. ^ Mumma, Michael; et al. Astrobiology Science Conference 2010. Astrophysics Data System (Greenbelt, MD: Goddard Space Flight Center). 2010. (原始内容存档 (PDF)于2012-10-25) 使用|archiveurl=需要含有|url= (帮助).  |contribution=被忽略 (帮助);
  42. ^ Oze, C.; Sharma, M. Have olivine, will gas: Serpentinization and the abiogenic production of methane on Mars. Geophys. Res. Lett. 2005, 32 (10): L10203. Bibcode:2005GeoRL..3210203O. doi:10.1029/2005GL022691. 
  43. ^ Rincon, Paul. Mars domes may be 'mud volcanoes'. BBC News. 2009-03-26 [2009-04-02]. (原始内容存档于2009-03-29). 
  44. ^ Team Finds New Hope for Life in Martian Crust Archive.is存档,存档日期2015-11-08. Astrobiology.com. Western University. 16 June 2014.
  45. ^ Etiope, Giuseppe; Ehlmannc, Bethany L.; Schoell, Martin. Low temperature production and exhalation of methane from serpentinized rocks on Earth: A potential analog for methane production on Mars. Icarus. 2013, 224 (2): 276–285. Bibcode:2013Icar..224..276E. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2012.05.009. Online 14 May 2012 
  46. ^ Thomas, Caroline; et al. Variability of the methane trapping in Martian subsurface clathrate hydrates. Planetary and Space Science. January 2009, 57 (1): 42–47. Bibcode:2009P&SS...57...42T. S2CID 1168713. arXiv:0810.4359可免费查阅. doi:10.1016/j.pss.2008.10.003. 
  47. ^ Lasue, Jeremie; Quesnel, Yoann; Langlais, Benoit; Chassefière, Eric. Methane storage capacity of the early martian cryosphere. Icarus. 2015-11-01, 260: 205–214. Bibcode:2015Icar..260..205L. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2015.07.010. 
  48. ^ Etiope, G.; Fridriksson, T.; Italiano, F.; Winiwarter, W.; Theloke, J. Natural emissions of methane from geothermal and volcanic sources in Europe. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. Gas geochemistry and Earth degassing. 2007-08-15, 165 (1): 76–86. Bibcode:2007JVGR..165...76E. ISSN 0377-0273. doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2007.04.014. 
  49. ^ Krasnopolsky, Vladimir A. Search for methane and upper limits to ethane and SO2 on Mars. Icarus. 2012, 217 (1): 144–152. Bibcode:2012Icar..217..144K. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2011.10.019. 
  50. ^ Encrenaz, T.; Greathouse, T. K.; Richter, M. J.; Lacy, J. H.; Fouchet, T.; Bézard, B.; Lefèvre, F.; Forget, F.; Atreya, S. K. A stringent upper limit to SO2 in the Martian atmosphere. Astronomy and Astrophysics. 2011, 530: 37. Bibcode:2011A&A...530A..37E. doi:10.1051/0004-6361/201116820可免费查阅. 
  51. ^ Hunting for young lava flows. Geophysical Research Letters (Red Planet). 2011-06-01. (原始内容存档于2013-10-04). 
  52. ^ Keppler, Frank; Vigano, Ivan; MacLeod, Andy; Ott, Ulrich; Früchtl, Marion; Röckmann, Thomas. Ultraviolet-radiation-induced methane emissions from meteorites and the Martian atmosphere. Nature. Jun 2012, 486 (7401): 93–6. Bibcode:2012Natur.486...93K. PMID 22678286. S2CID 4389735. doi:10.1038/nature11203. Published online 30 May 2012 
  53. ^ Court, Richard; Sephton, Mark. Life on Mars theory boosted by new methane study. Imperial College London. 2009-12-08 [2009-12-09]. (原始内容存档于2017-08-04). 
  54. ^ Court, Richard W.; Sephton, Mark A. Investigating the contribution of methane produced by ablating micrometeorites to the atmosphere of Mars. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 2009, 288 (3–4): 382–5. Bibcode:2009E&PSL.288..382C. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2009.09.041. 简明摘要Phys.org (2009-12-08). 
  55. ^ Keppler, Frank; Vigano, Ivan; McLeod, Andy; Ott, Ulrich; Früchtl, Marion; Röckmann, Thomas. Ultraviolet-radiation-induced methane emissions from meteorites and the Martian atmosphere. Nature. 2012, 486 (7401): 93–6. Bibcode:2012Natur.486...93K. PMID 22678286. S2CID 4389735. doi:10.1038/nature11203. 
  56. ^ 56.0 56.1 Robledo-Martinez, A.; Sobral, H.; Ruiz-Meza, A. Electrical discharges as a possible source of methane on Mars: lab simulation. Geophys. Res. Lett. 2012, 39 (17): L17202. Bibcode:2012GeoRL..3917202R. doi:10.1029/2012gl053255可免费查阅. 
  57. ^ Atkinson, Nancy. Could Dust Devils Create Methane in Mars' Atmosphere?. Universe Today. [2016-11-29]. (原始内容存档于2021-11-16). 
  58. ^ Urquhart, James. Martian methane breaks the rules. Royal Society of Chemistry. 2009-08-05 [2014-12-20]. (原始内容存档于2016-06-17). 
  59. ^ Burns, Judith. Martian methane mystery deepens. BBC News. 2009-08-05 [2014-12-20]. (原始内容存档于2009-08-06). 
  60. ^ Mumma, Michael J.; et al. Strong Release of Methane on Mars in Northern Summer 2003 (PDF). Science. 2009-02-10, 323 (5917): 1041–1045 [2021-10-14]. Bibcode:2009Sci...323.1041M. PMID 19150811. S2CID 25083438. doi:10.1126/science.1165243. (原始内容存档 (PDF)于2012-03-13). 
  61. ^ Franck, Lefèvre; Forget, François. Observed variations of methane on Mars unexplained by known atmospheric chemistry and physics. Nature. 2009-08-06, 460 (7256): 720–723. Bibcode:2009Natur.460..720L. PMID 19661912. S2CID 4355576. doi:10.1038/nature08228. 
  62. ^ Burns, Judith. Martian methane mystery deepens. BBC News. 2009-08-05 [2009-08-07]. (原始内容存档于2009-08-06). 
  63. ^ Giuranna, Marco; Viscardy, Sébastien; Daerden, Frank; Neary, Lori; Etiope, Giuseppe; Oehler, Dorothy; Formisano, Vittorio; Aronica, Alessandro; Wolkenberg, Paulina; Aoki, Shohei; Cardesín-Moinelo, Alejandro; Julia; Merritt, Donald; Amoroso, Marilena. Independent confirmation of a methane spike on Mars and a source region east of Gale Crater. Nature Geoscience. 2019, 12 (5): 326–332. Bibcode:2019NatGe..12..326G. S2CID 134110253. doi:10.1038/s41561-019-0331-9. 
  64. ^ 64.0 64.1 64.2 Oze, Christopher; Jones, Camille; Goldsmith, Jonas I.; Rosenbauer, Robert J. Differentiating biotic from abiotic methane genesis in hydrothermally active planetary surfaces. PNAS. 2012-06-07, 109 (25): 9750–9754. Bibcode:2012PNAS..109.9750O. PMC 3382529可免费查阅. PMID 22679287. doi:10.1073/pnas.1205223109. 
  65. ^ Staff. Mars Life Could Leave Traces in Red Planet's Air: Study. Space.com. 2012-06-25 [2012-06-27]. (原始内容存档于2012-06-30). 
  66. ^ Krasnopolsky, Vladimir A.; Maillard, Jean Pierre; Owen, Tobias C. Detection of methane in the martian atmosphere: evidence for life?. Icarus. December 2004, 172 (2): 537–547. Bibcode:2004Icar..172..537K. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2004.07.004. 
  67. ^ Kral, T. A.; Goodhart, T.; Howe, K. L.; Gavin, P. Can Methanogens Grow in a Perchlorate Environment on Mars?. 72nd Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society. 2009, 72: 5136. Bibcode:2009M&PSA..72.5136K. 
  68. ^ 68.0 68.1 Earth organisms survive under low-pressure Martian conditions. University of Arkansas. 2015-06-02 [2015-06-04]. (原始内容存档于2015-06-04). 
  69. ^ Steigerwald, Bill. Martian Methane Reveals the Red Planet is not a Dead Planet. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (NASA). 2009-01-15. (原始内容存档于2009-01-16). If microscopic Martian life is producing the methane, it probably resides far below the surface, where it's still warm enough for liquid water to exist 
  70. ^ Levin, Gilbert V.; Straat, Patricia Ann. Methane and life on Mars. Hoover, Richard B; Levin, Gilbert V; Rozanov, Alexei Y; Retherford, Kurt D (编). Instruments and Methods for Astrobiology and Planetary Missions XII 7441. 2009: 12–27. Bibcode:2009SPIE.7441E..0DL. ISBN 978-0-8194-7731-6. S2CID 73595154. doi:10.1117/12.829183.  |journal=被忽略 (帮助)
  71. ^ Steigerwald, Bill. Martian Methane Reveals the Red Planet is not a Dead Planet. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (NASA). 2009-01-15. (原始内容存档于2009-01-17). 
  72. ^ Aarhus University. Methane vanishing on Mars: Danish researchers propose new mechanism as an explanation - An interdisciplinary research group from Aarhus University has proposed a previously overlooked physical-chemical process that can explain the rapid disappearance of methane from Mars' atmosphere.. EurekAlert!. 2019-07-02 [2019-07-02]. (原始内容存档于2020-11-25). 
  73. ^ Aoki, Shohei; Guiranna, Marco; Kasaba, Yasumasa; Nakagawa, Hiromu; Sindoni, Giuseppe. Search for hydrogen peroxide in the Martian atmosphere by the Planetary Fourier Spectrometer onboard Mars Express. Icarus. 2015-01-01, 245: 177–183. Bibcode:2015Icar..245..177A. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2014.09.034. [失效链接]
  74. ^ Zahnle, Kevin; Freedman, Richard; Catling, David. Is there Methane on Mars? – 41st Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (PDF). 2010 [2010-07-26]. (原始内容存档 (PDF)于2021-06-28). 
  75. ^ Jensen, Svend J. Knak; Skibsted, Jørgen; Jakobsen, Hans J.; Kate, Inge L. ten; Gunnlaugsson, Haraldur P.; Merrison, Jonathan P.; Finster, Kai; Bak, Ebbe; Iversen, Jens J.; Kondrup, Jens C.; Nørnberg, Per. A sink for methane on Mars? The answer is blowing in the wind. Icarus. 2014, 236: 24–27. Bibcode:2014Icar..236...24K. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2014.03.036. 
  76. ^ Thøgersen, Jan; et al. Light on windy nights on Mars: A study of saltation-mediated ionization of argon in a Mars-like atmosphere. Icarus. 2019-06-22, 332: 14–18. Bibcode:2019Icar..332...14T. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2019.06.025. 
  77. ^ Saltation may be contributory in the depletion of methane on Mars.页面存档备份,存于互联网档案馆) Per Nørnberg, Jan Thøgersen, Ebbe Nordskov Bak, Kai Finster, Hans Jørgen Jacobsen, and Svend J. Knak Jensen. Geophysical Research Abstracts. Vol. 21, EGU2019-13986, 2019. EGU General Assembly 2019.