Dust devils reveal surprising raging winds on Mars
CNNOCT 2025
Mars dust storms pose minimal threat to future astronauts despite dramatic portrayals in fiction. Wind speeds max out at just 60 mph with atmospheric pressure only 1% of Earth's, meaning storms lack the force to damage major equipment or strand explorers.
Mars harbors dangerously powerful winds that exceed scientific predictions and frequently surpass dust-lifting thresholds. New research tracking over 1,000 dust devils reveals wind stresses systematically exceed climate model forecasts, with some reaching 160 km/h speeds.
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