Other missions have gathered images, weather data and dust measurements of these events, and the NASA InSight lander even recorded seismic and magnetic signals created by the dust devils. But sound…
By Ashley Strickland | CNN
Other missions have gathered images, weather data and dust measurements of these events, and the NASA InSight lander even recorded seismic and magnetic signals created by the dust devils. But sound has been the missing element — until now. In between the walls of the whirlwind is a calm period when the rover was in the eye of the vortex, Murdoch said.
Images and other data sent back by the rover also confirmed what happened. When the researchers pieced all of the elements collected by the rover together, they determined that the dust devil reached more than 387 feet tall and spanned 82 feet — about 10 times larger than the rover itself. While this sounds like a massive whirlwind, it’s the average size for Martian dust devils, Murdoch said.
Learning more about how dust becomes lofted and moves on the red planet — a key feature of its weather and climate since dust is its main feature — can help scientists better understand the formation and evolution of dust storms.“Global dust storms are important for understanding the Martian climate,” Murdoch said. “The acoustic measurements of dust impacts and dust lifting will, therefore, improve our understanding of dust devils and will also help to improve Martian climate models.
Dust devils occur frequently in Jezero Crater, where Perseverance landed, but they seem to be absent at InSight’s home in the flat plain of Elysium Planitia — and researchers aren’t sure why.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
NASA's Mars Perseverance rover records 1st-ever audio of Red Planet dust devilThe audio reveals perplexing details about the anatomy of a dust devil.
Read more »
Mars rover captures 1st sound of dust devil on red planetA NASA rover on Mars by chance had its microphone on when a whirling tower of red dust passed overhead last year and caught the sound. mars dustdevil kprc2 click2houston science
Read more »
Mars rover captures 1st sound of dust devil on red planetA NASA rover by chance had its microphone on when a whirling tower of red dust passed directly overhead, recording the racket. The dust devil came and went over Perseverance quickly last year, thus the short length of the audio, said the University of Toulouse’s Naomi Murdoch, lead author of the study appearing in Nature Communications. Photographed for decades at Mars but never heard until now, dust devils are common at the red planet.
Read more »
Mars Rover Captures 1st Sound Of A Dust Devil On The Red PlanetThe Martian dust devil sounds quieter than the ones on Earth, since the thin atmosphere makes for more muted sounds and less forceful wind, researchers say.
Read more »
Listen to a Martian dust storm engulf the Perseverance rover in eerie, world-first audio recordingAn unprecedented audio recording could reveal key details about extreme weather on the Red Planet.
Read more »
ListenNo matter where you are or what device you use to listen to KPCC, we've got you covered with mobile apps, web streaming, smart speakers, HD radio and more.
Read more »