Interglacial clathrate destabilization on Mars: Possible contributing source of its atmospheric methane

Research Article| March 01, 2006 Interglacial clathrate destabilization on Mars: Possible contributing source of its atmospheric methane Olga Prieto-Ballesteros; Olga Prieto-Ballesteros 1Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC), 28850-Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jeffrey S. Kargel; Jeffrey S. Kargel 2Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Alberto G. Fairén; Alberto G. Fairén 3Centro de Biología Molecular, CSIC-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049-Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar David C. Fernández-Remolar; David C. Fernández-Remolar 4Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC), 28850-Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar James M. Dohm; James M. Dohm 5Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Ricardo Amils Ricardo Amils 6Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC), 28850-Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain, and Centro de Biología Molecular, CSIC-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049-Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Olga Prieto-Ballesteros 1Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC), 28850-Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain Jeffrey S. Kargel 2Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Alberto G. Fairén 3Centro de Biología Molecular, CSIC-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049-Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain David C. Fernández-Remolar 4Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC), 28850-Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain James M. Dohm 5Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA Ricardo Amils 6Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC), 28850-Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain, and Centro de Biología Molecular, CSIC-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049-Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 13 Oct 2005 Revision Received: 04 Nov 2005 Accepted: 08 Nov 2005 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2006) 34 (3): 149–152. https://doi.org/10.1130/G22311.1 Article history Received: 13 Oct 2005 Revision Received: 04 Nov 2005 Accepted: 08 Nov 2005 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Olga Prieto-Ballesteros, Jeffrey S. Kargel, Alberto G. Fairén, David C. Fernández-Remolar, James M. Dohm, Ricardo Amils; Interglacial clathrate destabilization on Mars: Possible contributing source of its atmospheric methane. Geology 2006;; 34 (3): 149–152. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G22311.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The presence of methane has been recently detected in the martian atmosphere, suggesting a contemporary source such as volcanism or microbial activity. Here we show that methane may be released by the destabilization of methane clathrate hydrates, triggered by the interglacial climate change starting 0.4 Ma. Clathrate hydrates are nonstoichiometric crystalline compounds in which a water ice lattice forms cages that contain apolar gas molecules, such as methane [CH4·nH2O] and carbon dioxide [CO2·nH2O]. The loss of shallow ground ice eliminates confining pressure, initiating the destabilization of clathrate hydrates and the release of methane to the atmosphere. This alternative process does not restrict the methane's age to 430 yr (maximum residence time of methane gas in martian atmosphere), because clathrate hydrates can preserve (encage) methane of ancient origin for long time periods. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.