Jakarta –
So far, Mars is known as a planet with a very thin atmosphere – only about 1% of the volume of Earth’s atmosphere. However, recent research has revealed a surprising fact, namely that the winds on the Red Planet are much stronger than expected, and can even reach 158 kilometers per hour.
These findings were published in the journal Science Advances as a result of a collaboration between a team of scientists from the University of Bern, Switzerland, and the European Space Agency (ESA). They studied the dust devil phenomenon, namely rapidly rotating vertical dust vortices on the surface of Mars. The goal is to map the direction and strength of winds in various regions of the planet.
“The dust swirl makes the normally invisible wind visible,” said Valentin Bickel, lead author of the study from the University of Bern, quoted on the Cosmosmagazine page.
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By analyzing the movement of dust devils through stereo imagery, the team was able to trace wind patterns and speeds across the surface of Mars, something that was previously difficult to do.
Tracing Martian Winds Through Stereo Images
For this research, the team used two of ESA’s advanced instruments: the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on the Mars Express probe and the Stereo and Color Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) on the ExoMars orbiter.
“The stereo images captured the same point on the Martian surface several seconds apart, allowing us to measure the movement of the dust vortices,” said Nicolas Thomas, co-author of the study.
From the analysis results, the team detected 384 dust vortices from CaSSIS images and 655 from HRSC. This phenomenon generally appears in dry regions during Martian summer and spring, lasting several minutes, with highest activity between 11.00 and 14.00 local solar time.
Surprisingly, the wind speed around the vortex can reach 44 meters per second or around 158 kilometers per hour. Previously, scientists estimated that wind speeds on Mars were just under 50 km/h, with a maximum peak of around 100 km/h.
“Our data shows where and when winds were strong enough to lift dust from the surface,” Bickel said.
Keys to Mars Climate Models and Missions
This discovery is important for planning the next space mission. By understanding wind patterns and strength, scientists can improve Mars climate models, predict the risk of dust storms and increase the safety of landing probes on the planet’s surface.
“With new insights into atmospheric dynamics, we can predict weather conditions and plan Mars missions more safely,” said Daniela Tirsch from the German Aerospace Center (DLR).
This information is also important for determining landing sites and estimating the amount of dust that sticks to solar panels, which could reduce the power of devices on the Martian surface.
Revealing Active Geological Processes on Mars
Apart from helping space exploration, this study also opens new insights into active geological processes on Mars. Strong winds are believed to play a major role in forming the planet’s sand dunes and slope lines.
“Our measurements open the way to understanding active geological processes that are still occurring on the planet,” Bickel added.
With advanced imaging technology and analysis across decades, scientists now have a more complete picture of Mars—a planet that once seemed desolate, but is actually filled with violent winds that continually change its face.
This article has appeared on detikINET.
(afr/south)