NASA’s Perseverance rover captured this Martian dust devil moving east to west at a clip of about 12 mph (19 kph) along “Thorofare Ridge” on Aug. 30.
NASA's Perseverance rover recently captured a breathtaking Martian dust devil in action on the rugged terrain of the Jezero Crater.
The stunning images, taken on August 30, 2023, during the 899th Martian day (or sol) of the mission, offer an unprecedented glimpse into the Red Planet's dynamic atmosphere.
Dust Devils: A Martian Marvel
Dust devils, though considerably smaller and less intense than Earth's tornadoes, are a phenomenon that plays a crucial role in Mars' climate.
These whirling vortices of dust help redistribute fine particles across the Martian landscape, and scientists study them to gain deeper insights into the planet's atmosphere and improve their weather models.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
The footage, which was ingeniously enhanced to bring out intricate details, showcases the lower part of the dust devil as it gracefully danced along the western rim of Mars' Jezero Crater.
It is worth noting that the video has been sped up 20 times and is composed of 21 frames captured four seconds apart, courtesy of one of the rover's Navcams.
A Closer Look
Mission scientists have been hard at work analyzing this captivating footage. They determined that the dust devil in question was situated approximately 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) away from Perseverance's location.
This whirlwind was on the move from east to west at an impressive clip of about 12 mph (19 kph) and boasted a width of around 200 feet (60 meters).
But what truly boggles the mind is the dust devil's towering presence. While only the lower 387 feet (118 meters) of this phenomenon are visible in the camera frame, scientists have used the shadow it cast to estimate its full height, and the result is nothing short of awe-inspiring.
According to Mark Lemmon, a planetary scientist at the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and a member of the Perseverance science team, "We don't see the top of the dust devil, but the shadow it throws gives us a good indication of its height."
"Most are vertical columns. If this dust devil were configured that way, its shadow would indicate it is about 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) in height," Lemmon explains.
For the first time, scientists were able to record the sound of dust devils on Mars back in Dec 2022.
Earth Counterparts
While we marvel at Martian dust devils, it is worth noting that these phenomena are not exclusive to the Red Planet.
Here on Earth, dust devils are common wind phenomena that occur in various parts of the world, including Arizona. Earth dust devils, like their Martian cousins, are generally smaller and less intense than tornadoes, with typical diameters ranging from 10 to 300 feet and heights of 500 to 1000 feet.
In most locations, terrestrial dust devils last only a few minutes before dissipating. However, in arid regions like northern Arizona, they can reach astonishing heights of several thousand feet and endure for an hour or more, with wind speeds exceeding 60 mph.
These earthly whirlwinds can be surprisingly destructive, lifting dust and debris into the air, and can damage or even destroy small structures in their path.
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