‘Dust Devils’ on Martian Surface Reveal Details of Weather, Climate

‘Dust Devils’ on Martian Surface Reveal Details of Weather, Climate

WASHINGTON (Reuters) — Two decades of observations by a pair of orbiting spacecraft have enabled scientists to track the whirlwinds called “dust devils” that regularly pirouette across the surface of Mars, providing a deeper understanding of the planet’s climate and weather, including wind speeds higher than previously known.

Martian Dust Devils Reveal Dynamic Surface Winds

In 2020, the scientists and engineers behind NASA’s InSight lander were optimistic. The mission was performing spectacularly, and it had no end in sight. Then, its power began to fade. Fine Martian dust was relentlessly piling on top of its solar panels, blocking sunlight. Mission operators had anticipated this but hoped that occasional wind gusts or passing dust devils would sweep the panels clean. Such fortuitous cleaning had prolonged the liv…