A Dust Devil on Mars
Explanation:
Does the surface of
Mars change?
When inspecting yearly images of the
Martian surface taken by the robot spacecraft
Mars Global Surveyor currently orbiting
Mars, sometimes new
dark trails are visible.
Although originally a mystery, the culprit is now usually known to be a
dust devil, a huge swirling gas-cloud with similarities
to a terrestrial tornado.
Pictured above, a recent image has not only captured a
new dark trail but the actual
dust devil itself climbing a
crater wall.
Dust devils are created when
Martian air is heated by a warm surface
and begins to spin as it rises.
Dust devils can stretch 8 kilometers high but
usually last only a few minutes.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
