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."

Comments

Thanks :)

[HG Slashdot]

But after studying the mini-storms more, they realize that the dust and sand particles could cause static electricity discharges, also known as lightning.
Thanks :) I have always been wondering what "lightning" is.

Well then

[MrShaggy]

I guess there is no Tasmanian Devil inside these ?? Or a 'really really big one'. Shagz

Re:Not as powerful as tornadoes...

[MadMorf]

One more note:

We may not be able to reliably measure their destructive force because there are no trailer parks for them to tear up...

Now we can find life on Mars, at last

[AtariAmarok]

At last, we have a fairly reliable way to zero in and find life on Mars. Just find where these funnel-clouds congregate, and you are sure to find Martian trailer parks. Granted, I'm not sure that discovering "green trash" is the type of close encounter everyone's been expecting, but it is better than nothing.

Re:Not as powerful as tornadoes...

[EvanED]

It's not just a matter of not measuring them because of a lack of trailer parks, it is reasonable to conclude from this research originally from The Annals of Improbable Research that the lack of trailer parks actually reduces the occurances of tornadoes.

Many of the other variables mentioned as possible influences on the frequency of tornadoes, such as camcorder sales, are also substantially lower or in fact zero on Mars.

Damage astronauts?

[Anonymous Coward]

since they can damage astronauts or equipment on the Martian surface.

As far as I know, there are no astronauts on Mars so it is not possible for them to be damaged. However, they could be damaged if they were there. Is some kind of backwards Capricorn 1? We actually go there, but don't tell anyone? Conspiracy theorists awake!

blink

[tverbeek]

The high speed grains of sand blowing around at about 30 meters/second (70 miles per hour) are nothing to blink at either,

I dunno... they sound like a good reason to blink, if you ask me.