NASA Reveals Dust Devil Data from Mars

saskboy writes "NASA reports that Martian dust devils could be much more destructive than previously considered. You may remember this past April when it was revealed that whirlwinds actually helped the current rovers by cleaning accumulated dust from their solar cells which increased their energy collection efficiency. But after studying the mini-storms more, they realize that the dust and sand particles could cause static electricity discharges, also known as lightning. The high speed grains of sand blowing around at about 30 meters/second (70 miles per hour) are nothing to blink at either, since they can damage astronauts or equipment on the Martian surface. The height of a Martian dust devil can reach 10km (6 miles), which means it's more like the size of a terran tornado."

Wind energy?

[Anonymous Coward]

I know it's a long shot, but couldn't this energy be harnessed in say a decade and make future vehicule be able to function 24/24?

Re:A quick question

[i8a4re]

My guess is that tornados form from storm clouds where dust devils form due to convection from heating. While they are both vorticies, their origin is what distinguishes them.

Could Dust Devils be...

[budn3kkid]

a potential cause for the loss of ESA's Beagle2? Maybe it's blown off course during landing, or maybe a chance that a Dust Devil went past the lander right after landing and blew it apart? Then maybe it was torn apart and buried under the sand? It would explain why the lander still couldn't be found, 'cause maybe it's not in one piece anymore. Considering this discovery, maybe it would be prudent to figure in a method to avoid lander losses should it encounter any Dust Devils DURING the landig process, in addition to protecting against it AFTER landing. Some sort of new material would have to be developed if it were to withstand constant sand-blasting all year round, considered if Humans are to be sent to Mars for colonisation.

Re:Lightning

[AndroidCat]

I don't suppose the rovers have microphones (adjusted for the low pressure)? Most of the time it wouldn't be worth the bandwidth to send back, but the bang and rumble from just one lightning strike would be something. And can you imagine the number of New Age "windstorm on Mars" environmental CDs that NASA could sell?

Re:A quick question

[Anonymous Coward]

A tornado is a vortex that by definition has to be in contact with both the ground and a cloud base. The Martian vortex under discussion forms in a cloudless environment, therefor it shouldn't be called a tornado. Furthermore, the mechanism that creates and sustains the Martian devils appears to be identical to the mechanism that powers terrestrial dust devils (tornadoes are formed by a different process entirely). Because the Martian vortices do not form under a cloud base, and are created in a manner similar to terrestrial dust devils, it's clear that the appropriate name for the vortex is dust devil, and not tornado. The fact that the Martian whirlwinds may be as powerful as some Earthly tornadoes is not really a good enough reason to call them tornadoes. Dust devils it is.

Re:I walked into a dust devil here on earth...

[bcmm]

I've been in a dust devil too, in the hot, dry parts in the south-east of Yemen, though it passed over me; I didn't walk into it on purpose.

It should be pointed out to /.ers who've never seen one that earth ones are nothing like as powerful as the Martian variety, and that all you need to do for safety is to wear sunglasses or something over your eyes and a cloth over your mouth and nose so you don't inhale dust/sand.