Huge Dust Storm on Mars.

3488 · Jul 10, 2007

Post deleted by 3488 <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

anthmartian · Jul 10, 2007

I am still here...just! I doubt the wind on Mars would be that useful for power generation. I believe Andrew hit the nail on the head describing how thin the atmosphere is. What we have to remember is just how thin/fine the Martian dust is. some of it is comparable to cigarette smoke in consistency, it does not need much wind to stir it up. I read somewhere the highest wind speeds on Mars would be like a gentle breeze on Earth. I have not seen any updates on the storm, beyond the recent story about how Phoenix would handle such an event on landing. I doubt we'll see many image updates from the rover's, i would hope power supplies will saved while this storm is ongoing. oh, and thanks once again Andrew. You know i enjoy sharing such views. It's a pleasure always. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy! Without precise calculations we could fly right through a star, or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?"Han Solo - 1977 - A long time ago in a galaxy far far away.... Click Here And jump over to my site. </div>

jaxtraw · Jul 10, 2007

Something I don't understand and perhaps somebody wiser could explain- I don't understand how these storms start in a small area, and then spread out across sometimes as much as the entire planet. What makes a storm "infectious"? Naively I'd have thought that whether a particular area is stormy would be entirely due to local conditions. So what causes a giant/planetwide storm? Apologies for ignorance, here.

3488 · Jul 11, 2007

Martian Dust Storm Creeps North By Ker Than Staff Writer posted: 11 July 2007 03:36 pm ET The enormous dust storm raging across Mars' southern half has begun to creep into the northern hemisphere as well, new satellite images reveal. Scientists are using the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) on NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter to track the global Martian dust storm that erupted suddenly in late June. THEMIS is a multiwave camera sensitive to multiple wavelengths of both visible and infrared light. The dust storm began in Mars' heavily cratered southern hemisphere and swelled to encircle the entire planet in roughly a week. As winds swept dust into the atmosphere, the atmosphere warmed, creating a positive feedback that added to the storm's power, helping it pick up even more dust. But this process can only go on for so long. "When the dust becomes thick enough, it reflects more sunlight from the atmosphere, allowing the air near the surface to cool," said Joshua Bandfield, research associate at the Mars Space Flight Facility at Arizona State University. Dust storms, even global ones, are normal for Mars. "It's southern summer in the southern hemisphere," Bandfield said. "That's when Mars lies closest to the sun and solar heating is greatest." If severe enough, dust storms can entirely obscure surface features on Mars. The first images from NASA of the storm reveal it hasn't reached this level yet, although it has kicked up enough dust to reduce solar power to two robotic rovers, Opportunity and Spirit, currently on Mars. "This storm isn't as big or severe as the one in 2001," Bandfield said. " THEMIS and other orbiters can still see the surface, despite the continuing dust activity." It's uncertain how long the current storm will last, but it probably won't disappear as quickly as it beg <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

rasun · Jul 18, 2007

Yesterday I tried to create an image that shows the most recent change at Opportunity's site. Images are from sol 1220, 1225, 1233 and 1235.

rasun · Jul 18, 2007

Maybe it's a bit small, here's the full size image. Look at the hills on the horizon fading.

rasun · Jul 18, 2007

This is also interesting, if it's valid: An animation that shows light level changes on a short time scale.

3488 · Jul 20, 2007

Thank you very much rasun. Great posts & images. I hope that you do not object, but I have dowloaded your Opportunity comparison sols 1220, 1225, 1233 and 1235 full size image. Shows the opacity getting worse very well indeed. Your posted image of the same demonstrates that very well too. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> Hi all, It has now gone global. <img src="/images/icons/shocked.gif" /> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Martian Dust Storms Engulf Planet By Dave Mosher Staff Writer posted: 20 July 2007 08:17 am ET The surface of Mars is now obscured by a globe-engulfing veil of dust, officials report, posing a potentially longer-lasting threat to the plucky NASA rovers on the planet's surface. A collection of massive regional dust storms, first reported by SPACE.com, have been whipping up a "planet-encircling veil of dust" on the red planet since late June of this year, according to a recently published release by Malin Space Science Systems (MSSS) in San Diego, Calif. "The dust raised by these individual storms has obscured most of the planet over the past few weeks," the company said. A series of images shows how the regional storms, which covered about 10 million square miles (25.9 million square kilometers) two weeks ago, have lifted enough dust to blot out the surface of the red planet. Sun-obscured explorers The Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity weathered the regional storms by cutting back their activity, but the global dust event may escalate danger to the rovers that depend on sunlight to survive the bone-chilling cold of the planet. Steve Squyres of Cornell University, who is the lead scientist of the Mars Exploration Rover Project, reported on Monday that the dust levels are some of the worst the <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

3488 · Jul 20, 2007

Another update today. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From JPL website. NASA Mars Rovers Braving Severe Dust Storms July 20, 2007 PASADENA, Calif. - Having explored Mars for three-and-a-half years in what were missions originally designed for three months, NASA's Mars rovers are facing perhaps their biggest challenge. For nearly a month, a series of severe Martian summer dust storms has affected the rover Opportunity and, to a lesser extent, its companion, Spirit. The dust in the Martian atmosphere over Opportunity has blocked 99 percent of direct sunlight to the rover, leaving only the limited diffuse sky light to power it. Scientists fear the storms might continue for several days, if not weeks. "We're rooting for our rovers to survive these storms, but they were never designed for conditions this intense," said Alan Stern, associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. If the sunlight is further cut back for an extended period, the rovers will not be able to generate enough power to keep themselves warm and operate at all, even in a near-dormant state. The rovers use electric heaters to keep some of their vital core electronics from becoming too cold. Before the dust storms began blocking sunlight last month, Opportunity's solar panels had been producing about 700 watt hours of electricity per day, enough to light a 100-watt bulb for seven hours. When dust in the air reduced the panels' daily output to less than 400 watt hours, the rover team suspended driving and most observations, including use of the robotic arm, cameras and spectrometers to study the site where Opportunity is located. On Tuesday, July 17, the output from Opportunity's solar panels dropped to 148 watt hours, the lowest point for either rover <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

MeteorWayne · Jul 20, 2007

Thanx for the update Andrew, even though the news isn't very good. We can just hope for the best. If there's any way to save Oppy, I'm sure the engineers will find it. Just a few weeks ago we were debating whether it was a good idea to drive into Victoria. Now we are just hoping for survival. Kind of gives you perspective on how blessed the missions have been to have lasted this long! Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

3488 · Jul 20, 2007

Hi MeteorWayne, What a turn around. Two updates on the same day. It is not good. Firstly now that the storm has become global & now the confirmation that sunlight reaching the surface currently is not much brighter than at Saturn (although it is diffuse on Mars), due to the dust. I wonder if the option will ever be taken up for Opportunity to enter Victoria Crater? All that optimism, Victoria Crater or to go onto Ithaca Crater, now as you say, will they die where they are situated?????????? A real turn around. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

MeteorWayne · Jul 20, 2007

Yeah, sometimes that's just the way it is in the space business. I suggest we keep our fingers and toes crossed <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

silylene old · Jul 20, 2007

The storm has intensified a lot in the last few days, and space.com is reporting that the rovers may fail...story <blockquote>In reply to:<hr />"To give you a sense of the 'thickness' of the dust, the brightness of the sun as viewed from the surface is now down to less than 5 percent of what it would be with a perfectly transparent atmosphere," said Steve Squyres of Cornell University, .snip... Before the dust storms began blocking sunlight last month, Opportunity's solar panels had been producing about 700 watt hours of electricity per day, enough to light a 100-watt bulb for seven hours. When dust reduced the panels' daily output to less than 400 watt hours, the rover team suspended driving and most observations, including use of the robotic arm, cameras and other site-inspection instruments. On Tuesday, July 17, the output from Opportunity's solar panels dropped to 148 watt hours, the lowest point for either rover. On Wednesday, the output dropped even lower, to 128 watt hours. Mark Lemmon, a planetary scientist at Texas A&M University and member of the rover team, said Opportunity is consuming 130 watt hours per martian day in its "sleep mode." If the negative balance continues without a break, Lemmon explained, the rover may malfunction in a matter of weeks. "Even with a 10-20 watt hour gap, we'd have a healthy rover for over a week," Lemmon said in a telephone interview. "We've never been in situation where we've been in any imminent danger of a battery depleting, but it's possible." <hr /></blockquote> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature" align="center">- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - </div><div class="Discussion_UserSignature" align="center">I really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function. </div> </div>

3488 · Jul 20, 2007

Thank you very much silylene. Your post proves that the situation is deteriorating by the hour. It looks as if Opportunity is currently at the greatest risk of running out of power. Needless to say, I think this story will be followed intensely. So 5% of approx 44% of sunlight on Earth, is what?? 2.2% of sunlight on Earth. So about half that at Jupiter!!!!!! Yikes!!!!! <img src="/images/icons/shocked.gif" /> Not good for solar powered craft. <img src="/images/icons/crazy.gif" /> Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

JonClarke · Jul 20, 2007

With a tau of over 5, this is as bad as any dust storm observed by the Viking landers. Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars Arthur Clarke </div>

3488 · Jul 20, 2007

Hi Jon, Like this one of Sol 1742 Viking 1. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

3488 · Jul 20, 2007

Or this moody dull one from Viking 2. About tau 4?? Note the lack of contrast!!!!! At least the Viking landers did not rely on sunlight!!!!! Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

silylene old · Jul 20, 2007

Tau numbers are in the upper right. Picture is from The Planetary Society formula for intensity at surface: I = Io exp (-tau) tau = evg absorbance * path length <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature" align="center">- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - </div><div class="Discussion_UserSignature" align="center">I really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function. </div> </div>

3488 · Jul 20, 2007

Hi thanks again silylene, Full size crop of MER B Opportunity sol 1235. 10:53 AM local time, Sun nearly at its highest in the north (just over an hour away) & see how dark it is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! tau = 4.7. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

dragon04 · Jul 20, 2007

What are the odds of losing one or both rovers before this storm clears up? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "2012.. Year of the Dragon!! Get on the Dragon Wagon!". </div>

3488 · Jul 20, 2007

At the moment, Opportunity looks like the one under the thickest dust & darkest skies. I hope that we do not lose either. But this is not looking good. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

JonClarke · Jul 21, 2007

I reckon they will pull through. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars Arthur Clarke </div>

JonClarke · Jul 21, 2007

I = Io exp (-tau) Where Io = what exactly? Also is I total intensity of direct, as poosed to diffuse light intensity? Thanks Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars Arthur Clarke </div>

Smersh · Jul 21, 2007

I think Dan Rather should be dispatched to Mars immediately to give us a first-hand report on this storm. Anyway I guess the rovers are getting VERY old now and have already gone WELL past their "sell by" date. We've had much, much more life from them than was originally thought. Haven't they survived dust storms before though? You never know, maybe they can survive this one as well ... live in hope, anyway. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <h1 style="margin:0pt;font-size:12px">----------------------------------------------------- </h1>Lady Nancy Astor: "Winston, if you were my husband, I'd poison your tea." Churchill: "Nancy, if you were my wife, I'd drink it."Website / forums </div>

3488 · Jul 21, 2007

I hope so very much Jon. Hi Smersh, The MERs have not had to endure such an intense & powerful dust storm. Yes they have weathered minor storms, but nothing of this magnitude. It has now gone global, so we'll see. One problem I can foresee, is when the dust settles, will it blanket the solar arrays??? Another update: JPL website, This sequence of Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) Mars Color Imager (MARCI) daily mosaics shows some of the dust storm activity that occurred near the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Opportunity landing site between 21 June 2007 and 18 July 2007. The Opportunity rover is located near the martian prime meridian and equator. The top and middle rows of images show the first six days of dust storm activity near the rover site as dust advanced from the west to the south and passed south of the rover over the course of a week. By the end of that first week, storm activity strengthened and continued to move east, eventually passing over nearly half of the martian southern hemisphere. Other storms spawned by this atmospheric disturbance affected the MER Spirit rover on the other side of the planet, while new storms developed, approached, and affected Opportunity. The bottom three images show dust activity over the MER Opportunity site on 3, 14, and 18 July. By 19 July, most of the martian surface was obscured by the dust lofted from these storms. As with previous large dust-raising events on Mars, once the active storms die down, many weeks to months will pass before the dust settles out and the atmosphere clears. The white circle indicates the location of the Opportunity landing site, the black gaps are caused by slewing the spacecraft east or west to image specific science targets, and north in each picture is toward the top, west is to the left. Image credit: NASA/JPL/MSS <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

Huge Dust Storm on Mars.

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