NASA Scientists Predict Global Dust Storm on Mars

Global dust storms on Mars may follow a predictable pattern, with an active period likely to begin at the end of this month, according to NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) planetary scientist James Shirley.

“Based on the historical pattern we found, we believe it is very likely that a global dust storm will begin within a few weeks or months of this date,” Shirley says.

The most recent Martian global dust storm blew up in 2007. The rovers Spirit and Opportunity were starved of solar power.

So how do these global storms arise?

Dust storms are part of everyday life on the red planet. Local eddies and whirls can join forces to become bigger storms – perhaps producing lightning – that can cover entire regions.

These tend to arise during the southern hemisphere’s spring and summer, when Mars is closest to the sun.

Shirley calculated that the effects other planets have on Mars’ momentum as it orbits the sun, along with its orbital motion, contribute to the frequency and severity of the storms.

NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s colour camera will keep an eye on the planet, though – we’ll know if Shirley’s predictions come true soon enough.

Agencies/Canadajournal