Mars is windier than previously thought, according to new research, which may alter the design of upcoming missions. Scientists monitored 1,039 tiny tornado-like whirlwinds known as dust devils using decades’ worth of data from the European Space Agency (ESA), especially from its Mars Express and ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) missions. Dust travels throughout the planet by these spinning columns of air.
According to a study in Science Advances, the strongest Martian winds can reach speeds of up to 158 km/h. However, Mars’s air is so thin that a person standing there would barely notice even 100 km/h winds. But, these winds can have a significant effect on spacecraft, solar panels, and landing operations.
Under the direction of Valentin Bickel from the University of Bern, the research team identified dust devils in thousands of orbiting photos using artificial intelligence.
Although they can happen anywhere from plains to volcanoes, they discovered that Amazonis Planitia, an area covered in fine sand and dust, is a major hotspot for these whirlwinds. In both hemispheres, dust devil activity typically peaks between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. local solar time and lasts only a few minutes.
How the winds were measured
ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and Mars Express were not designed to measure wind speeds. But Valentin Bickel‘s group came up with a creative method to detect motion: they employed what engineers refer to as “image noise”—tiny data shifts between multiple photo channels.
Up to nine channels were combined in each imaging sequence, with intervals ranging from seven to nineteen seconds. Scientists were able to determine direction and speed when a dust devil passed through the frame and its motion was visible across those layers.
The team used this method to create a map of dust devil activity on Mars. They found that the strongest whirlwinds can travel up to 158 km/h, which is significantly faster than previously thought. This new data supports mission planning for upcoming landers and rovers and helps in the improvement of climate models.
As Bickel clarified: “Information on wind speeds and directions is really important when planning the arrival of future landers and rovers at Mars.”
He added: “Our measurements could help scientists understand wind conditions at a landing site before touchdown — helping them estimate how much dust might settle on a rover’s solar panels, and how often it might need to self-clean.”
What this means for current and future missions
“It’s great to see researchers using Mars Express and ExoMars TGO for totally unexpected research. Dust affects everything on Mars — from local weather conditions to how well we can take images from orbit. It’s difficult to understate the importance of the dust cycle.” ESA project scientist for both missions, Colin Wilson, stated.
An excellent illustration is the Opportunity rover’s experience with NASA. Due to dust devils blowing sand off its solar panels, the rover experienced “cleaning events” that extended its operation significantly. Engineers can now anticipate the location and timing of similar cleaning events, allowing new rovers to remain operational for years, thanks to studies like this one.
Knowing not only where dust travels but also how it settles is important for mission designers when mapping Amazonis Planitia and other “dust source regions.” It helps in figuring out the best landing spots, panel angles, and upkeep schedules.
Small data, big impact
This study offers important new information about Mars, including when, how quickly, and where its dust devils form.
What started out as a side project has grown to be essential to mission planning. Engineers can predict power loss from dust accumulation, design landers, and extend the life of solar-powered missions by having a better understanding of these winds.