Aeolian abrasion of rocks as a mechanism to produce methane in the Martian atmosphere.

ABSTRACT: Seasonal changes in methane background levels and methane spikes have been detected in situ a metre above the Martian surface, and larger methane plumes detected via ground-based remote sensing, however their origin have not yet been adequately explained. Proposed methane sources include the UV irradiation of meteoritic-derived organic matter, hydrothermal reactions with olivine, organic breakdown via meteoroid impact, release from gas hydrates, biological production, or the release of methane from fluid inclusions in basalt during aeolian erosion. Here we quantify for the first time the potential importance of aeolian abrasion as a mechanism for releasing trapped methane from within rocks, by coupling estimates of present day surface wind abrasion with the methane contents of a variety of

SUBMITTER: Safi E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6546745 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature