Key Takeaways
1. Researchers have successfully captured images and tracked the movement of 1,039 dust devils on Mars.
2. Wind speeds of up to 158 kilometers per hour were recorded, exceeding previous measurements from rovers.
3. The study was led by Valentin Bickel from the University of Bern, Switzerland.
4. Innovative tracking methods utilized color offsets from the ESA’s Mars Express and ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter.
5. Findings will enhance understanding of wind behaviors on Mars, aiding future exploration efforts.
Over many years, researchers have spotted various dust devils on Mars. Thanks to rovers like the Perseverance rover, this has become possible. However, none of those rovers have successfully followed the movement of these whirlwind-like phenomena.
New Findings on Dust Devils
A recent research led by Valentin Bickel from the University of Bern in Switzerland not only succeeded in capturing images of dust devils but also gauged their speed and direction. The team produced a map that highlights the positioning of 1,039 dust devils, additionally indicating the movement direction of 373 of them.
Impressive Wind Speeds
The scientists recorded wind speeds reaching up to 158 kilometers per hour while observing the speed of these dust devils. Remarkably, this wind velocity surpasses anything that researchers have previously measured using the rovers.
Innovative Tracking Methods
How Bickel and his colleagues monitored the dust devils is also significant. They utilized an unintended feature of the ESA’s Mars Express and ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO). When observing a moving entity like a dust devil, there are delays in the images from Mars Express and ExoMars TGO, resulting in what the ESA calls “color offsets.” Bickel’s team cleverly took advantage of these color offsets to follow the dust devils.
This research is aiding scientists in enhancing their knowledge of wind behaviors across Mars, which could prove advantageous when organizing future expeditions to the Red Planet.
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