2023-10-09 03:05:30
The Perseverance rover recently recorded fascinating images of a rare phenomenon on Mars: an exceptionally large dust tornado, commonly referred to as a “dust devil,” streaking across the Martian landscape.
The rover spotted this swirling storm on August 30, during its 899th solar, or Martian, day on the Red Planet. For approximately 84 seconds, the rover recorded the movements of this dust devil as it raged atop a ridge approximately 4 kilometers from its location. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) shared a time-lapse of the phenomenon online, showing the action at 20 times faster speed, on September 29.
The Devil’s Tornado: a monumental column of dust on Mars
This imposing tornado was moving at approximately 12 mph (19 km/h) and was approximately 200 feet (61 meters) wide. In the video, it reached a maximum height of 387 feet (118 meters). But the upper part of the storm was truncated, leaving its true height unknown. However, researchers believe that this tornado was of exceptional magnitude.
Mark Lemmon, planetary scientist affiliated with Space Science Institute de Boulder, Colorado, and a member of the Perseverance rover science team, shared crucial information about this Martian tornado. He explained: “We can’t see the top of the dust devil. But the shadow it casts gives us a good indication of its height. Most of these formations are vertical columns. If this dust devil had a similar structure, then its shadow would suggest that it reached an impressive height of around 2 kilometers.”
Dust devils, commonly called “dust devils,” form when a combination of rising cells of warm air interact with descending columns of colder air. This phenomenon also occurs on Earth, especially in dry, dusty areas like Arizona. In these locations, they are generally between 10 and 300 feet (3 to 91 meters) wide. But also a height of 500 to 1,000 feet (152 to 305 meters). At least that’s what the data from the National Weather Service.
Tornadoes that defy terrestrial norms
According to the release, Martian dust devils are less powerful and smaller in size than their Earth counterparts. However, the whirlwind recently filmed on Mars was much more imposing.
According to researchers’ estimates, it surpasses the average of classic American tornadoes. However, these can measure between 1,640 and 4,920 feet (500 to 1,500 meters), according to FOX Weather.
The precise reason for the exceptional size of this dust devil remains unknown. Unlike a terrestrial tornado, limited by the height of the clouds above it, there appear to be no similar constraints on the height of a Martian dust devil.
A 2018 study, published in the journal Icarus, suggested that on Mars, there could be at least one dust devil per square kilometer each day. Which equates to around 145 million swirls per day in total. Therefore, it is likely that dust devils play a dominant role in transporting dust to the surface of Mars.
Secrets revealed: the Perseverance and Curisity rover in search of answers about dust devils
Due to the significant impact that dust devils have on the morphology of the Martian environment, rovers Perseverance et Curiosity constantly monitor the presence of these phenomena nearby.
So far, Perseverance has witnessed numerous dust tornadoes, as reported by Space.com. In 2021, a historic milestone was reached when researchers managed to record the sound of a dust devil passing directly above the Perseverance rover.
This advance allowed the rover to follow the movement of particles in the vortex. Thus offering valuable clues about their formation and evolution.
Massive fire tornado on the sun!
The largest fire tornado (of the devil) in the solar system! “This thing has been squirming and growing for 3 days now! I’ve never seen anything like this since I’ve been observing the sun.
17 mars 2023
Apollo Lasky pic.twitter.com/EZYFKD44F8— Archangel (@Dayofpunisher) March 22, 2023
Dust devils aren’t the only unusual tornadoes to have been documented this year. In March, a immense “solar tornado” was observed on the surface of the Sun. This exceeds the size of 14 times that of the Earth. This manifestation persisted for more than three days following the interaction of a plasma plume with a rapidly rotating magnetic field.
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#NASAs #Perseverance #robot #films #devils #tornado #Mars