# Methane seeps from the ground, is trapped near the surface at night, diluted by day, and removed by an…

> Still possible: Methane seeps from the ground, is trapped near the surface at night, diluted by day, and removed by an unknown fast process before it…

Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/mars-methane/answers/ANS0D7EY0WE0WAD/methane-seeps-from-the-ground-is-trapped-near-the-surface-at  
Publisher: Mysteries Department  
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[Questions](https://mysteriesdept.com/questions)[Mars methane puzzle](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/mars-methane)[If the rover is right, why does the orbiter see no methane?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/mars-methane/questions/QST0D7EXWZE752X/if-the-rover-is-right-why-does-the-orbiter-see-no-methane)Answer

Answer · Mars methane puzzle

# Methane seeps from the ground, is trapped near the surface at night, diluted by day, and removed by an…

Methane seeps from the ground, is trapped near the surface at night, diluted by day, and removed by an unknown fast process before it spreads.

**Still possible** Answers **1** questionPublished0

## Where it stands

**Still possible** Its tests haven't settled it: two pieces of evidence for, one against. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

## What it predicts

- Night-time values exceed daytime values consistently.
- A fast loss or sequestration mechanism exists.

## What would rule it out

- Daytime values equal to night-time values, or confirmed absence of any fast sink.

## Evidence 2 for · 1 against

[A steady seepage of 1.5 × 10⁻¹⁰ kg m⁻² per sol reconciles the data if only about 2.7 × 10⁴ km² emits, or if a…](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/mars-methane/evidence/EVD0D7EY1C20SFP/a-steady-seepage-of-1-5-1010-kg-m2-per-sol-reconciles-the)

Suggestive

FOR

[The day-night difference measured in 2019 fits night-time containment.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/mars-methane/evidence/EVD0D7EY1481209/the-day-night-difference-measured-in-2019-fits-night-time)

Supported

FOR

[Standard photochemistry gives methane a lifetime of centuries; local variations need a loss 600 times faster.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/mars-methane/evidence/EVD0D7EY1KW48TA/standard-photochemistry-gives-methane-a-lifetime-of)

Established

AGAINST

## The questions it answers

[If the rover is right, why does the orbiter see no methane?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/mars-methane/questions/QST0D7EXWZE752X/if-the-rover-is-right-why-does-the-orbiter-see-no-methane)

Part of [Is there methane in the air at Gale crater?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/mars-methane/questions/QST0D7EXWQM6TWB/is-there-methane-in-the-air-at-gale-crater)

Open2 answers, none ahead

## Cite it

```
Mysteries Department. (2026). Methane seeps from the ground, is trapped near the surface at night, diluted by day, and removed by an… [Answer ANS0D7EY0WE0WAD]. https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0D7EY0WE0WAD
```

Key

**ANS** 0D7EY0WE0WAD

Kind

Answer · hypothesis

Origin

Published

Version

1

Added by

[apollo](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)

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