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Space Science

Researchers Model Pluto's Atmosphere, Find 225 Mph Winds 77

MatthewVD writes "Pluto may have been downgraded to a dwarf planet, but researchers modeling its wisp of an atmosphere continue to find that it is a surprisingly complex world, particularly when it comes to weather patterns. Howling winds that sweep clockwise around the planet at up to 225 mph — though the atmosphere is so thin, it would only feel like 1 mph on Earth. The algorithms used to model the atmosphere will be helpful in studying far more complex atmospheres, like Earth's."
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Researchers Model Pluto's Atmosphere, Find 225 Mph Winds

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  • Re:Gravity (Score:5, Informative)

    by vlm ( 69642 ) on Tuesday May 01, 2012 @11:44AM (#39857911)

    You would still be blown all over the place because of the lack of gravity, it just takes a bit longer to accelerate to speed.

    Its only about a 20th not zero.

    To a ridiculously crude first approximation, if the force of the wind is equivalent to 1 MPH at earth STP, then factoring in gravity it would be like being in a 20 MPH wind on earth WRT to being tipped over. However you'd have the same inertia you have on earth, so there wouldn't be much tumbling around due to gusts.

If all else fails, lower your standards.

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