Data and Model Investigation of Martian Methane and Other Trace Gases

Malynda Chizek (NMSU)

Recent observations [Krasnopolsky et al., 2004; Formisano et al., 2004; Mumma et al., 2009; Fonti & Marzo, 2010] have detected traces of methane in the Martian atmosphere, and have shown that the gas is unexpectedly variable in both abundance and spatial distribution. Interest has arisen in investigating possible source and removal mechanisms because of implications of current or recent biological or geological activity, but available seasonal and spatial information of Martian methane is sparse. I will use spectral analysis techniques developed by Marzo et al. [2006] to analyze the publicly available three Martian years of Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer (TES) emissivity data at the 7.8 micron methane band and generate maps of these observations to increase the amount of available information on Martian methane. I will continue work with the NASA Ames Mars atmospheric General Circulation Model (GCM) to include new constraints from my analysis of the TES data as well as develop a photochemical package to investigate proposed source and removal processes of Martian methane.