Dust devils reveal surprising raging winds on Mars

PHYS

Mars dust devils mapped in detail, revealing faster winds than expected

Space

1,000 Mars dust devils! European orbiters track Red Planet's tiny tornadoes

The Register

ESA data reveal Mars dust devils racing at up to 158 km/h

IFLScience

Winds On Mars Are Faster Than Thought, Analysis Of 1,039 Dust Devils Shows

9News Australia

Mini tornadoes on Mars reveal surprising force of red planet's winds

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Dust devil migration patterns reveal strong near-surface winds across Mars

European Space Agency

Dancing dust devils trace raging winds on Mars

Science

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Metaculus

SpaceX Lands People on Mars by 2030

Donald Trump

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Biden NASA

John Elbon

Charles Bolden

Peggy Whitson

Tony Antonelli

Dava Newman

Dave Spencer

Jim Bridenstine

Robert Zubrin

Steve Milloy

SPACE.COM

Stephen Koerner

Thomas David Jones

Richard Dawkins

Jim Green

The New York Times

"No human is going to Mars anytime soon, if ever. "

"We will not go [to Mars] until the American people and the international community are ready and decide that it is a priority."

"No earlier than 2040 and no later than 2100."

NASA may send humans to Mars "approximately in the 2030s."

"NASA is developing the capabilities needed to send humans to an asteroid by 2025 and Mars in the 2030s."

"If those [uncrewed] landings go well, then the first crewed flights to Mars will be in 4 years."

"We will lead the world in space and reach Mars before the end of my term."

Will the US Send Astronauts to Mars?

In a study published on Wednesday in Science Advances, researchers analyzed twenty years of imagery from European Space Agency orbiters Mars Express and ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter to create a catalog of 1,039 dust devils across Mars between 2004 and 2024, using neural networks to identify these phenomena.

In a study published on Wednesday in Science Advances, researchers analyzed twenty years of imagery from European Space Agency orbiters Mars Express and ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter to create a catalog of 1,039 dust devils across Mars between 2004 and 2024, using neural networks to identify these phenomena.

The study revealed that Martian dust devils can reach speeds up to 160 kilometers per hour, significantly faster than previous measurements from Mars rovers and exceeding predictions from current climate models by factors of 3 to 10 meters per second.</span

The study revealed that Martian dust devils can reach speeds up to 160 kilometers per hour, significantly faster than previous measurements from Mars rovers and exceeding predictions from current climate models by factors of 3 to 10 meters per second.

Scientists determined dust devils occur most frequently during spring and summer months in both hemispheres, typically lasting only a few minutes and peaking between 11:00 and 14:00 local solar time, similar to patterns observed on Earth.</span

Scientists determined dust devils occur most frequently during spring and summer months in both hemispheres, typically lasting only a few minutes and peaking between 11:00 and 14:00 local solar time, similar to patterns observed on Earth.

The research team tracked movement patterns for 373 of the detected dust devils by analyzing color offsets and stereo imaging delays in spacecraft data, converting unwanted image artifacts into scientific measurements of wind velocity and direction.</span

The research team tracked movement patterns for 373 of the detected dust devils by analyzing color offsets and stereo imaging delays in spacecraft data, converting unwanted image artifacts into scientific measurements of wind velocity and direction.

Many dust devils were concentrated in Amazonis Planitia, a smooth plain covered with fine dust and sand that provides ideal conditions for formation due to its flat terrain and high solar illumination during summer months on Mars.</span

Many dust devils were concentrated in Amazonis Planitia, a smooth plain covered with fine dust and sand that provides ideal conditions for formation due to its flat terrain and high solar illumination during summer months on Mars.

The findings are expected to help plan future Mars missions by providing wind condition data for landing sites, enabling scientists to estimate dust accumulation on rover solar panels and determine optimal cleaning schedules for sustained operations.

The findings are expected to help plan future Mars missions by providing wind condition data for landing sites, enabling scientists to estimate dust accumulation on rover solar panels and determine optimal cleaning schedules for sustained operations.

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Mars dust storms pose minimal threat to future astronauts despite their dramatic reputation. Wind speeds max out at just 60 mph with Mars' ultra-thin atmosphere providing only 1% of Earth's density, making even the strongest storms incapable of damaging major equipment or stranding explorers.

Mars dust storms pose minimal threat to future astronauts despite their dramatic reputation. Wind speeds max out at just 60 mph with Mars' ultra-thin atmosphere providing only 1% of Earth's density, making even the strongest storms incapable of damaging major equipment or stranding explorers.</span

Biden NASA #

The Fact and Fiction of Martian Dust Storms

Mars dust devils pack far more punch than previously understood, with new research revealing winds reaching 160 km/h — much faster than ground measurements suggested. These powerful whirlwinds occur across the entire planet and move faster than current weather models predict, demanding serious consideration for mission planning.

Mars dust devils pack far more punch than previously understood, with new research revealing winds reaching 160 km/h — much faster than ground measurements suggested. These powerful whirlwinds occur across the entire planet and move faster than current weather models predict, demanding serious consideration for mission planning.</span

Mars Dust Devils Reach 160 km/h, Study of 1,039 Reveals

Science & technology

New research tracking over 1,000 Martian dust devils offers a crucial roadmap for future Mars missions. By converting decades of orbital images into precise wind measurements — revealing speeds up to 160 km/h, far faster than previously estimated — and mapping their seasonal and daily patterns, scientists can better predict dust accumulation on rover solar panels, evaluate landing site conditions, and plan operations, turning what was once background “noise” on Mars into actionable mission intelligence.

New research tracking over 1,000 Martian dust devils offers a crucial roadmap for future Mars missions. By converting decades of orbital images into precise wind measurements — revealing speeds up to 160 km/h, far faster than previously estimated — and mapping their seasonal and daily patterns, scientists can better predict dust accumulation on rover solar panels, evaluate landing site conditions, and plan operations, turning what was once background “noise” on Mars into actionable mission intelligence.

While Martian dust devils may be faster than originally thought, historical observations suggest the planet’s ultra-thin atmosphere limits their destructive power. Winds, even in global storms, rarely exceed 97 km/h, making major equipment damage unlikely. Dust accumulation on solar panels and mechanical components remains a real operational challenge, but these effects are typically manageable, offering engineers predictable conditions for planning landers, rovers and future human missions.

While Martian dust devils may be faster than originally thought, historical observations suggest the planet’s ultra-thin atmosphere limits their destructive power. Winds, even in global storms, rarely exceed 97 km/h, making major equipment damage unlikely. Dust accumulation on solar panels and mechanical components remains a real operational challenge, but these effects are typically manageable, offering engineers predictable conditions for planning landers, rovers and future human missions.

There's a 0.1% chance that SpaceX will land people on Mars by 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

There's a 0.1% chance that SpaceX will land people on Mars by 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Francis DEMANGE/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

Francis DEMANGE/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

Mars Dust Devils Reach 160 km/h, Study of 1,039 Reveals

Mars Dust Devils Reach 160 km/h, Study of 1,039 Reveals

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Mars Dust Devils Reach 160 km/h, Study of 1,039 Reveals

Mars Dust Devils Reach 160 km/h, Study of 1,039 Reveals

The Spin

Metaculus Prediction

The Controversies

Milloy

Antonelli

Spencer

Whitson

NASA

Musk

Trump

Articles on this story

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