Update on Mars' atmosphere, Media briefing on NASA Jan 15th |
Update on Mars' atmosphere, Media briefing on NASA Jan 15th |
Jan 12 2009, 06:01 PM
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
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Jan 15 2009, 04:34 PM
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 5 Joined: 20-April 05 Member No.: 326 |
According to news reports, the latest science have correlated the methane detections with water vapor clouds, strongly suggesting a biological linkage instead of, say, a volcanic origin.
I understand this, but I do have a question for you scientists out there. Wouldn't any volcanic subsurface heating that released methane up through the soil also cause melting of any subsurface ice, thus resulting in the release of both methane and water vapor at the surface? While I'm all for believing there is microbial life on Mars, I'm not sure why this isn't a possible explanation, and thus why a correlation doesn't necessarily point to biological over volcanic processes. Perhaps there are other geophysical reasons to exclude this, but I would appreciate any thoughts along those lines. (And if any of you have access to the scientists at or after the press conference, please pass this question along to them!) |
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Jan 15 2009, 04:48 PM
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2173 Joined: 28-December 04 From: Florida, USA Member No.: 132 |
I continue to be disappointed in the failure to include the possibility of photochemical generation of methane in the discussion whenever biological and geological sources are considered.
If methane is found in association with water clouds, is it to be implied that organisms generating the methane are present in the clouds? Is it not even more likely that the water in the clouds is used in a photochemical reaction creating the methane? I'd like to see the possibility at least addressed. |
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