Posted on 10/06/2016 1:10:36 PM PDT by BenLurkin
The storm is expected to envelop the red planet, and reduce the amount of solar energy available to NASA’s rovers, Opportunity and Curiosity. The storm will also make it harder for orbiters to do their work.
Dust storms are really the only type of weather that Mars experiences. They’re very common. Usually, they’re only local phenomena, but sometimes they can grow to effect an entire region. In rarer cases, they can envelop the entire globe.
...
Predicting these huge dust storms will be of prime importance when humans gain a foothold on Mars. The dust could wreak havoc on sensitive systems, and can limit the effectiveness of solar power for weeks at a time.
But it’s not just future endeavours that are impacted by Martian dust storms. Spirit and Opportunity had to batten down the hatches when a global dust storm interrupted their exploration of Mars in 2007.
....
We have observed 9 global dust storms on Mars since the first time in 1924, with the most recent one being the 2007 storm that threatened Spirit and Opportunity. Other storms were observed in 1977, 1982, 1994, and 2001. There’ve been many more of them, but we weren’t able to see them without orbiters and current telescope technology. And Earth hasn’t always been in a good position to view them.
Global dust storms have left their imprint on the early exploration of Mars. In 1971, NASA’s Mariner 9 orbiter reached Mars, and was greeted by a global dust storm that made it impossible to image the planet.
(Excerpt) Read more at universetoday.com ...
Yeah, that reminds me...Gotta change out the filters in my A/C and furnace. /s
Trump’s Fault!
Oh, my doody doodness. Probably Bush’s fault.
Definitely caused by global warming
Man, this solar system just can’t get a break!
Recommended reading ... “Darwin’s Ghost,” ... “The Origin of Species Updated” by Steve Jones. Every one of Darwin’s chapters is updated. The introduction (pages 1 to 6 is fantastic, and then Jones updates every single chapter in Darwin’s work.
Wait...didn’t the election of Obama usher in a new era of peace and tranquility in the entire solar system?
I Should have done a better job in posting my prior post.
I’ve moved on from global warming. Now I’m on to manmade continental drifting and stuff.
First in with Uranus! Klingons!
Yes, and can’t Obama fix everything?
Maybe Dust Storm Dejah.
Speaking of which, whose turn is it to mind that big red spot on Jupiter this week?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.