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How do Martian dust storms grow from local storms into planet-wide events?
Solar SystemMars
Quick Answer
Strong winds lift fine dust, and once dust is airborne it can warm the atmosphere and strengthen circulation. In some years the storms spread until they cover the whole planet.
The Full Story
Mars has a very dry atmosphere and extremely fine dust, so it does not take much wind to loft particles into the air. Once dust is suspended, it absorbs sunlight and heats the atmosphere, which can intensify winds and help lift even more dust. This feedback can cause storms to expand beyond their original region. Global dust storms do not happen every year, but when they do, they can last for weeks or months and seriously affect solar-powered missions.
Key Facts
1.Mars dust is fine enough to stay airborne for long periods
2.Global dust storms can last for weeks or months
3.The 2018 storm helped end NASAβs Opportunity rover mission
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"How one Martian dust cloud can swallow an entire planet"