I know that Methane has been detected on Mars, however there seems to be a lack of specific information about the location and concentration of the Methane. Would it be possible to pinpoint the source of the Methane with current technology (E.G. Mass Spectrometers) or is it spread enough by Martian winds to not be detectable in any specified above-average concentration? Do we simply not have the coverage using the rover? What would be an example of a previous mission where we found an unexpected gas - has there been one and what did we do?
5-hour mark update:
I have since done more research and have found the following information regarding the sample analysis on Mars I have yet to analyze the sources provided on the page, but I am in the process of reading into each of the listed sources. Attached below is a Mass Spectrometer reading of the methane found on mars from 2012 to 2014:
(the Mass Spectrometer did not measured a single molecule of methane, the reported readings are from TSL, a laser Spectrometer, not a mass spectrometer)
Something that is notably lacking is the positions of the measurements as far as I could tell (I could be entirely wrong because my understanding of this graph is low) "Sol" (the number of days elapsed on Mars) can be used to estimate position (does anyone have this conversion of the graph?). Is there a utility that tracks Curiosity online in terms of "Sol" instead of days or an easy equation and resource that paths in days? I'm sure it's just a ratio. However, I also found this picture on the same page, stating the "theories for the Methane" but not actual scientific evidence.
Once again, still verifying sources, but this may jumpstart the answers. Please be harsh on correcting me if I use invalid diction or anything that is not relevant/scientifically accurate. I'm trying to learn as much as I can, and will take offense to nothing.
+1
This is an interesting question! When you say "Attached below is a Mass Spectrometer reading of the methane found on mars from 2012 to 2014:" could you add a link to the instrument that made the measurement? Could you explain if it a rover or lander on Mars, or perhaps a spacecraft orbiting Mars measuring the upper atmosphere (i.e. not on Mars). Are there really only four or five measurements points as shown in the plot? See for example how the question Why did the Earth based observations of methane on Mars go wrong? specifies location. $\endgroup$