Answer · Mars methane puzzle

Methane was present at the reported levels in 2003–2006 and has since declined or become rarer.

DisputedAnswers 1 questionPublished0

Where it stands

DisputedTwo pieces of evidence for, none against. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

What it predicts

Re-analysis of the archived PFS spectra with modern methods recovers the detections.

What would rule it out

Re-analysis showing the features are below significance or due to telluric or solar lines.

Evidence 2 for · none against

Ground-based spectra showed plumes, the largest about 19,000 tonnes.

Suggestive

FOR

PFS reported a global average of 10 ± 5 ppbv, varying from 0 to 30 ppbv.

Suggestive

FOR

The questions it answers

Were the remote detections of 2003–2006 real?

Part of If the methane is real, where does it come from?

Most likelyThe early remote detections were not secure

Cite it

Mysteries Department. (2026). Methane was present at the reported levels in 2003–2006 and has since declined or become rarer. [Answer ANS0D7EY4HM4YRK]. https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0D7EY4HM4YRK

@misc{mysteriesdept_ans0d7ey4hm4yrk,
  title     = {Methane was present at the reported levels in 2003–2006 and has since declined or become rarer.},
  author    = {{Mysteries Department}},
  year      = {2026},
  note      = {Answer, catalog key ANS0D7EY4HM4YRK},
  url       = {https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0D7EY4HM4YRK}
}