Mars dust storms may be linked to warming weather patterns

Mars dust storms may be linked to warming weather patterns
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Dec 10, 2024

A team of planetary scientists from the University of Colorado Boulder has shed new light on the dynamics behind Mars' infamous dust storms. These events, which sometimes enshroud the entire planet in fine particles, may be triggered by warmer and sunnier conditions on the Martian surface.

Lead researcher Heshani Pieris emphasized the importance of understanding these storms for the safety of Mars missions. "Dust storms have a significant effect on rovers and landers on Mars, not to mention what will happen during future crewed missions to Mars," said Pieris, a graduate student at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) at CU Boulder. "This dust is very light and sticks to everything."

The team's findings, based on observations from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, will be presented at the 2024 American Geophysical Union meeting in Washington.

Unpacking Mars' Dust Storms

The study explored weather patterns behind roughly two-thirds of major Martian dust storms, with a particular focus on temperature spikes at the surface. Co-author Paul Hayne, an associate professor at LASP, noted the current gaps in understanding. "We need to understand what causes some of the smaller or regional storms to grow into global-scale storms," Hayne said. "We don't even fully understand the basic physics of how dust storms start at the surface."

Dust storms on Mars often originate near the planet's polar ice caps during the latter part of the Martian year, when conditions are ripe for them to expand. These storms can spread rapidly, covering millions of square miles and lasting for days. While their force is minimal due to Mars' thin atmosphere, the storms can have significant operational impacts. For instance, NASA's Opportunity rover lost functionality in 2018 after a global storm buried its solar panels.

"Even though the wind pressure may not be enough to knock over equipment, these dust grains can build up a lot of speed and pelt astronauts and their equipment," Hayne explained.

Heat and Dust

Pieris and Hayne analyzed data from the Mars Climate Sounder instrument aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter over eight Martian years. Their research revealed that 68% of major dust storms were preceded by warmer surface temperatures.

"It's almost like Mars has to wait for the air to get clear enough to form a major dust storm," Hayne said.

While the findings do not definitively prove a cause-and-effect relationship, Pieris highlighted parallels with Earth's weather. On Earth, for example, warm air near the surface often rises to form storm clouds. On Mars, similar buoyant conditions might carry dust particles into the atmosphere.

"When you heat up the surface, the layer of atmosphere right above it becomes buoyant, and it can rise, taking dust with it," Pieris said.

Future Forecasts

The researchers aim to refine their models by analyzing more recent Martian weather data. They hope to one day predict storm activity on Mars using real-time information, a capability that could greatly benefit future exploration efforts.

"This study is not the end all be all of predicting storms on Mars," Pieris said. "But we hope it's a step in the right direction."