

THE GLOBAL DUST STORM OF 2018.
When we look at all the weather reports from the REMS Team up until MSL Sol 2082 there are plenty of reasons for great concern about the validity of the data. They are reinforced by the fact that the Jet Propulsion Laboratory pulled down or altered the REMS Team/NASA data on many occasions after Guy Webster, their public relations agent, either heard directly from us by phone or read our reviews of the data – something that we document with before and after print screens of the REMS Team published weather data plus IP address reports for readers. Most notable was the removal by NASA of all wind data in May 2013 after we called Mr. Webster about the fact that over 9 months their data never changed from 7.2 kph from the East even though the Viking 1 and 2 landers showed changes in wind speed and direction every hour for 8,311 hourly reports. Further, Ashima research, in conjunction with JPL showed impossible (and also never changing) sunrise and sunset times for the same period, but they eventually retracted them all based on our day length calculations. Some the changes to their data based on our suggestions was documented back on Table 3 of this Report.
Although NASA/JPL is well aware of fundamental flaws to the weather data reported by MSL Curiosity (and earlier landers) amazingly they still offer up ludicrous information. As such, we in turn offer below all MSL data for the Global Dust Storm of 2018. We will then show that the data is likely to be manufactured in particular with respect to pressure measurements which seem to be based on readings in previous years at the same Ls (solar longitude), increases in altitude due to Curiosity climbing Mt. Sharp, but which failed to account for the weight of the dust and how that is likely to contribute to an increase in pressure even though the lander is a little over 200 meters higher than it was in the previous Martian year.
Figure 40 shows that when the 2018 Global Dust Storm hit MSL that µV levels dropped to low. The figure shows MSL Sols 2082 to 2090. Low µV continued until at least Sol 2139, then appeared intermittently through 2,147. After that the effects of the storm were no longer apparent. Although this storm totally blocked out the sun at MER Opportunity as is shown below on Figure 41, enough sunlight had been blocked at MSL to prevent shadows from being formed, and to obscure many geographic features (see Figure 42). When we saw a similar dust storm on Earth darken Luke Air Force Base pressure rose by at least 6.6 mbar in an hour. Even if we say that gravity on Mars is only 38% of Earth's, an overhead mass of dust with a similar weight should produce an increase in pressure of a least 38% of 6.6 mbar. That's about 2.598 mbar which is 259.8 Pa.
11.1 Pressures Claimed for the 2018 Global Dust Storm.
In comparing pressure for the 2018 storm with pressures at MSL in 2016 (the previous Martian year) at the same solar longitude (Ls) we must first consider how the altitude changed as Curiosity climbed Mount Sharp. The (publically available) altitude record in 2018 was adequate, but the record during 2016 for the period of time between Ls 192 and Ls 241 is not available online although NASA has one diagram that is somewhat helpful. In Figure 43 it is modified by us to draw in the information that is available.
Altitude data, when available, is presented on Table 15A. It I taken from the NASA/JPL web site at https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/mission/whereistherovernow/. For the previous Martian year we are interested in Ls 192 to 241, sols 1412 to 1476. Unfortunately JPL offers a Site 54, Drive 2202, Sol 1353 map (https://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/7848/curiositys-traverse-map-through-sol-1353/) and then no such map until Site 58, Drive 2760 at Sol 1501 (https://mars.nasa.gov/imgs/2016/10/MSL_TraverseMap_Sol1501-full.jpg). Not that during the dust storm the lander climbed 29 meters from 4,192 meters below areoid to 4,163 meters below areoid, then descended 18 meters to 4,181 meters below areoid.
TABLE 15 A – MSL Sols, Ls and Altitude in Meters Below Areoid | ||||||
YR 3 | YR 4 (Dust Storm) | |||||
Sol | Ls | Height | Sol | Ls | Height | Δ Height |
1412 | 192 | N/A | 2080 | 192 | -4,192 m | N/A |
1413 | 193 | N/A | 2081 | 192 | -4,192 m | 0 |
1414 | 193 | N/A | 2082 | 193 | -4,192 m | 0 |
1415 | 194 | N/A | 2083 | 194 | -4,192 | 0 |
1416 | 194 | N/A | 2084 | 194 | -4,192 | 0 |
1417 | 195 | N/A | 2085 | 195 | -4,192 | 0 |
1418 | 196 | N/A | 2086 | 195 | -4,191 | +1 m |
1419 | 196 | N/A | 2087 | 196 | -4,192 | -1 m |
1420 | 197 | N/A | 2088 | 196 | -4,193 | -1 m |
1421 | 197 | N/A | 2089 | 197 | -4,192 | +1 m |
1422 | 198 | N/A | 2090 | 198 | -4,193 | -1 m |
1424 | 199 | N/A | 2092 | 199 | -4,186 | +7 m |
1426 | 200 | N/A | 2094 | 200 | -4,177 | +9 m |
1427 | 201 | N/A | 2095 | 201 | -4,171 | +6 m |
1430 | 203 | N/A | 2098 | 203 | -4,165 | +6 m |
1434 | 205 | N/A | 2102 | 205 | -4,163 | +2 m |
1436 | 206 | N/A | 2104 | 206 | -4,165 | -2 m |
1439 | 208 | N/A | 2106 | 208 | -4,164 | +1 m |
1440 | 209 | N/A | 2108 | 209 | -4,164 | 0 |
1448 | 214 | N/A | 2116 | 214 | -4,159 | +5 m |
1451 | 216 | N/A | 2119 | 216 | -4,159 | 0 |
1458 | 220 | N/A | 2126 | 220 | -4,163 | -4 m |
1460 | 222 | N/A | 2128 | 221 | -4,169 | -6 m |
1464 | 224 | N/A | 2132 | 224 | -4,170 | -1 m |
1476 | 232 | N/A | 2144 | 232 | -4,181 | -11 m |
Let's look at how our Table 15B below covers the 2018 dust storm at MSL. It shows the weather from MSL Sol 2080 (about a day before the storm arrived) up through Sol 2148. The µV dropped from high in Sol 2080 to low by Sol 2082 See Column R). Looking at Column C for the pressure during the storm, and Column N for the pressure at the same Ls in the previous Martian year, pressures in Year 4 dropped by 13 to 27 Pa from the previous year (see Column O). The average drop in pressure was about 20.87 Pa. In the 13 sols before arrival of the dust storm (Sols 2066 through Sol 2079) the average drop in pressures was 16.69 Pa. So the average pressure drop during the storm was 4.18 Pa more during the storm than before it. After the storm as I update this report on September 5, 2018 REMS has published data for 10 more sols (Sols 2150 through 2,159). The pressure drops in Pa for these 10 sols (compared to the previous year) were as follows: -19, 19, -19, -21, -19, -23, -23, -26, -24 and -23. The average drop was 21.6 Pa. Again, this compares to an average drop of 20.87 Pa during the storm and 16.69 16.69 Pa before the storm.
At Sol 2090 MSL Curiosity was at an altitude of about 4193 meters below areoid. The Sol from the previous Martian year where the Ls was the same was Sol 1422 which was 8/6/2016 on Earth. At that time Curiosity was about 4,400 meters below areoid. So it climbed about 207 meters since then. Based on a scale height calculation with 610 Pa (6.1 mbar) at areoid, climbing 207 meters from 4,400 meters to 4,193 below meters pressure should drop 17.4 Pa IF there is no dust storm. The scale height calculation is given below.
KILOMETERS
| 10.8 km Scale Height (MARS)
| RATIO A/B
| =-EXP(C value)
| 1/D scale height
| PRESSURE MARS BARS
| PRESSURE IN MBAR
| PRESSURE IN PASCALS
| DROP IN PRESSURE |
FROM YEAR 3 T0 4 | ||||||||
ONLY DUE TO CLIMB | ||||||||
-4.4 | 10.8 | -0.407407407 | -0.665373057 | -1.50291628 | 1.50291628 | 9.167789309 | 916.7789309 |
|
-4.193 | 10.8 | -0.388240741 | -0.678249041 | -1.474384686 | 1.474384686 | 8.993746585 | 899.3746585 | 17.40427243 |
0 | 10.8 | 0 | -1 | -1 | 1 | 6.1 | 610 | AREOID |
What does it mean that the scale height calculation for drop in pressure due to increase in altitude (17.4 Pa) almost exactly matches the drop in pressure supposedly measured by MSL (17.8 Pa - a 97.75% agreement? It means that the NASA data is likely to be fraudulent. While someone took the time to do the scale height calculation before giving us false data, he (or she) forgot that dust adds weight to the atmosphere. The pressure should have increased - probably by at least 100 Pa - rather than decreased. If it got as dark at MSL as it was at Opportunity due to this storm then the pressure should have gone up by about 233 Pa (the 250.8 Pa calculated above considering Mars gravity minus the 17.8 Pa lost due to altitude increase. We must therefore conclude that again we see the REMS Team manufacturing data.
On Table 15B column subjects and color codings are as follows (Note: JPL calls the first year of MSL on Mars "Year 0," the second year Year 1, the third year Year 2 and the 4th year Year 3):
On Table 1 column subjects and color codings are as follows (Note: JPL calls the first year of MSL on Mars "Year 0," the second year Year 1, the third year Year 2 and the 4th year Year 3):
Column A (Sol). The Martian day is about 39 minutes longer than the terrestrial day. Column B is solar longitude (Ls). MSL is in the Southern Hemisphere on Mars. The landing was at Ls 150 in winter. Ls 180 begins the spring there. Ls 270 starts summer, Ls 0 starts the fall. Ls 90 starts the winter. Column C shows the pressure reported by the REMS Team. Column D shows the date on Earth. Column E shows the maximum air temperature. With respect to the freezing point, from 0° C at 1 atm pressure it will increase up to 0.01° C at 0.006 atm (which is about the average pressure on Mars as given by NASA). This is the triple point of water. At pressures below this, water will never be liquid. It will change directly between solid and gas phase (sublimation). The temperature for this phase change, the sublimation point, will decrease as the pressure is further decreased Column F shows minimum air temperature. Column G shows the air temperature range for each sol. On Earth temperatures can vary by 40 °C in deserts. In column G where the range is 59 °C or less yellow background coloring points that out. The National Park Service claims the world record in a diurnal temperature variation is 102 °F (57 °C) (from 46 °F (8 °C) to −56 °F (−49 °C)) in Browning, Montana (elevation 4,377 feet/1,334 meters) on January 23 to 24, 1916. There were 2 days in Montana where the temperature changed by 57 °C. | Column H shows temperature range divided by 40. This allows us to compare terrestrial deserts with Gale Crater, Mars. How much cooling occurs at night is related to the density of the atmosphere. Here we see the ratio of cooling on a Mars sol to the typical 40 °C cooling figure for Earth's deserts shown with a green background when that ratio is under 1.5. For MSL Year 1 when we altered the devisor from 40 °C to 57 °C then 88 of the ratios were altered to 1 or less than 1, meaning that Martian air pressure is indeed likely much higher than NASA claims. Column I shows maximum ground temperature. As with terrestrial deserts, the ground on Mars heats more during the day than the air does, and it cools more at night than the air does. In Column K when the maximum ground temperature is given by REMS is above 0°C it is shown with a red background. Column J shows the minimum ground temperature. When it is -90 °C or colder the background is in purple. The ground temperatures are not very precise. The requirement was to measure ground brightness temperature over the range from 150 to 300 K with a resolution of 2 K and an accuracy of 10 K. Column K. Drop in ground temperature from day to night. Column L shows the increase in temperature from the mast 1.5 meters above the ground down to the ground during the daylight hours. In column N anytime there is an increase in temperature of 11 °C or more this in indicated with a dark blue background.
| Column M shows the decrease in temperature from the ground to the air at nights. If the data were valid we would expect similar heating or cooling to occur over the set distance from ground to boom. A quick survey of the data immediately shows that this was not found. In column L we see a variation in heating between 0 °C and at least 15 °C with a 54 °C anomaly on Sol 1,070. For nighttime cooling any variation from 11°C to 19°C is shown with a medium blue background. More than that is shown with a dark blue background. Column N shows the pressure for the same Ls in MSL Year 1. Column O shows the absolute value of the change in pressure in Pascals from the same Ls in the previous year (Column [M] - [C]). Column P shows the original pressure for the same Ls in MSL Year 1 before JPL revised their data. Column Q shows the Ls during Year 1. Column R shows the UV for the sol in Year 2. Column S shows the UV for the sol in Year 1. All sols in MSL Year 1 and Year 2 have opacity listed as “sunny” which seems dubious. Column T shows comments, if any.
|
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U
|
SOL | ~LS | PRESSURE Pa | EARTH DATE | MAX AIR TEMP °C | MIN AIR TEMP °C | AIR TEMP RANGE °C | AIR TEMP RANGE °C/40 | MAX GROUND TEMP °C | MIN GROUND TEMP °C | ∆ GROUND TEMP DAY TO NIGHT | DAYTIME CHANGE IN TEMP °C AIR TO GROUND | NIGHTTIME CHANGE IN TEMP °C AIR TO GROUND | PRESSURE AT SAME LS IN MSL YEAR 3 | ∆ PRESSURE YEAR 4 TO YEAR 3 SAME LS | ~LS year 3 | PRESSURE YEAR 1 BEFORE REVISION | UV YR 4 | UV YR 3 | MSL YEAR 3 SOL FOR THIS LS/ COMMENTS | MSL Altitude meters below areoid |
YELLOW IF <60 °C | GREEN IF<1.5 | RED IF > 0 °C | PURPLE = >-90°C OR COLDER | YELLOW NUMBERS = -80 to -89 °C, red background = -90°C or colder drop | BLUE = >10°C | PURPLE = >10°C | YELLOW = > 7 Pa) | |||||||||||||
2080 | 192 | 768 | 6/13/2018 | 2 | -67 | 69 | 1.725 | 11 | -70 | -81 | 9 | -3 | 782 | -14 | 192 | N/A | H | H | (1412) | -4,192 |
2081 | 192 | 770 | 6/14/2018 Dust storm | -3 | -69 | 66 | 1.65 | 6 | -71 | -77 | 9 | -2 | 784 | -14 | 193 | N/A | M | H | (1413) | -4,192
|
2082 | 193 | 768 | 6/15/201 Dust storm | -15 | -64 | 49 | 1.225 | 0 | -64 | -64 | 15 | 0 | 785 | -17 | 193 | N/A | L | H | (1414) | -4,192 |
2083 | 194 | 769 | 6/16/2018 Dust storm | -14 | -63 | 49 | 1.225 | -1 | -63 | -62 | 13 | 0 | 787 | -18 | 194 | N/A | L | H | (1415) | -4,192 |
2084 | 194 | 771 | 6/17/2018 Dust storm | -21 | -65 | 44 | 1.1 | -14 | -58 | -44 | 7 | +7 | 791 | -20 | 194 | N/A | L | H | (1416) | -4,192 |
2085 | 195 | 772 | 6/18/2018 Dust storm | -24 | -58 | 34 | 0.85 | -17 | -56 | -39 | 7 | +2 | 791 | -19 | 195 | N/A | L | H | (1417) | -4,192 |
2086 | 195 | 776 | 6/19/2018 Dust storm | -25 | -57 | 32 | 0.8 | -17 | -58 | -41 | 8 | -1 | 793 | -17 | 196 | N/A | L | H | (1418) | -4,191 |
2087 | 196 | 780 | 6/20/2018 Dust storm | -28 | -59 | 31 | 0.775 | -15 | -57 | -42 | 13 | +2 | 793 | -13 | 196 | N/A | L | H | (1419) | -4,192 |
2088 | 196 | 778 | 6/21/2018 Dust storm | -24 | -58 | 34 | 0.85 | -16 | -58 | -42 | 8 | 0 | 793 | -15 | 197 | N/A | L | H | (1420) | -4,193 |
2089 | 197 | 779 | 6/22/2018 Dust storm | -26 | -59 | 33 | 0.825 | -15 | -59 | -44 | 11 | 0 | 797 | -18 | 197 | N/A | L | H | (1421) | -4,192 |
2090 | 198 | 778 | 6/23/2018 Dust storm | -23 | -61 | 38 | 0.95 | -14 | -61 | -47 | 9 | 0 | 800 | -22 | 198 | N/A | L | H | (1422) | -4,193 |
2091 | 198 | 779 | 6/24/2018 Dust storm | -22 | -63 | 41 | 1.025 | -13 | -60 | -47 | 9 | +3 | 800 | -21 | 199 | N/A | L | H | (1423) | |
2092 | 199 | 781 | 6/25/2018 Dust storm | -24 | -67 | 43 | 1.075 | -12 | -62 | -50 | 12 | +5 | 803 | -22 | 199 | N/A | L | H | (1424) | -4,186 |
2093 | 199 | 780 | 6/26/2018 Dust storm | -24 | -63 | 39 | 0.975 | -14 | -60 | -46 | 10 | +3 | 804 | -24 | 200 | N/A | L | H | (1425) | |
2094 | 200 | 783 | 6/27/2018 Dust storm | -27 | -61 | 34 | 0.85 | -17 | -60 | -43 | 10 | +1 | 803 | -20 | 200 | N/A | L | H | (1426) | -4,177 |
2095 | 201 | 784 | 6/28/2018 Dust storm | -25 | -61 | 36 | 0.9 | -17 | -60 | -43 | 8 | +1 | 807 | -23 | 201 | N/A | L | VH | (1427) | -4,171 |
2096 | 201 | 788 | 6/29/2018 Dust storm | -22 | -63 | 41 | 1.025 | -15 | -59 | -44 | 7 | +4 | 808 | -20 | 202 | N/A | L | VH | (1428) | |
2097 | 202 | 789 | 6/30/2018 Dust storm | -23 | -60 | 37 | 0.925 | -16 | -59 | -43 | 7 | +1 | 810 | -21 | 202 | N/A | L | VH | (1429) | |
2098 | 203 | 791 | 7/1/2018 Dust storm | -23 | -61 | 38 | 0.95 | -17 | -59 | -42 | 6 | +2 | 810 | -19 | 203 | N/A | L | H | (1430) | -4,165 |
2099 | 203 | 791 | 7/2/2018 Dust storm | -25 | -61 | 36 | 0.9 | -16 | -58 | -42 | 9 | +3 | 811 | -20 | 204 | N/A | L | H | (1431) | |
2100 | 204 | 797 | 7/3/2018 Dust storm | -29 | -61 | 32 | 0.8 | -24 | -59 | -35 | 5 | +2 | 813 | -16 | 204 | N/A | L | H | (1432) | |
2101 | 204 | 796 | 7/4/2018 Dust storm | -23 | -61 | 38 | 0.95 | -16 | -59 | -43 | 7 | +2 | 821 | -25 | 205 | N/A | L | H | (1433) | |
2102 | 205 | 797 | 7/5/2018 Dust storm | -22 | -60 | 38 | 0.95 | -14 | -59 | -45 | 8 | +1 | 820 | -23 | 205 | N/A | L | H | (1434) | -4,163 |
2103 | 205 | 797 | 7/6/2018 Dust storm | -26 | -58 | 32 | 0.8 | -16 | -58 | -42 | 10 | 0 | 824 | -27 | 206 | N/A | L | H | (1435) | |
2104 | 206 | 797 | 7/7/2018 Dust storm | -23 | -59 | 36 | 0.9 | -15 | -58 | -43 | 8 | +1 | 824 | -27 | 206 | N/A | L | H | (1436) | -4,165 |
2105 | 207 | 802 | 7/8/2018 Dust storm | -25 | -61 | 36 | 0.9 | -15 | -59 | -44 | 10 | +2 | 821 | -19 | 207 | N/A | L | H | (1437) | |
2106 | 208 | 803 | 7/9/2018 Dust storm | -27 | -63 | 36 | 0.9 | -16 | -59 | -43 | 11 | +4 | 823 | -20 | 208 | N/A | L | H | (1438) | |
2107 | 208 | 807 | 7/11/2018 Dust storm | -21 | -65 | 44 | 1.1 | -15 | -59 | -44 | 6 | +6 | 828 | -21 | 208 | N/A | L | H | (1439) | -4,164 |
2108 | 209 | 806 | 7/12/2018 Dust storm | -24 | -65 | 41 | 1.025 | -15 | -58 | -43 | 9 | +7 | 828 | -22 | 209 | N/A | L | H | (1440) | -4,164 |
2109 | 209 | 809 | 7/13/2018 Dust storm | -22 | -66 | 44 | 1.1 | -12 | -60 | -48 | 10 | +6 | 828 | -19 | 210 | N/A | L | H | (1441) | |
2110 | 210 | 810 | 7/14/2018 Dust storm | -20 | -59 | 39 | 0.975 | -12 | -59 | -47 | 8 | 0 | 829 | -19 | 210 | N/A | L | H | (1442) | |
2111 | 211 | 813 | 7/15/2018 Dust storm | -20 | -67 | 47 | 1.175 | -12 | -60 | -48 | 8 | +7 | 831 | -18 | 211 | N/A | L | H | (1443) | |
2112 | 211 | 813 | 7/16/2018 Dust storm | -11 | -63 | 52 | 1.3 | -11 | -60 | -49 | 0 | +3 | 833 | -19 | 212 | N/A | L | H | (1444) | |
2113 | 212 | 815 | 7/17/2018 Dust storm | -20 | -62 | 42 | 1.05 | -11 | -60 | -49 | 9 | +2 | 836 | -21 | 212 | N/A | L | H | (1445) | |
2114 | 213 | 816 | 7/18/2018 Dust storm | -19 | -61 | 42 | 1.05 | -10 | -60 | -50 | 9 | +1 | 841 | 19 | 213 | N/A | L | H | (1446) | |
2115 | 213 | 818 | 7/19/2018 Dust storm | -21 | -61 | 40 | 1.0 | -12 | -60 | -48 | 9 | +1 | 841 | -25 | 214 | N/A | L | H | (1447) | |
2116 | 214 | 820 | 7/20/2018 Dust storm | -21 | -62 | 41 | 1.025 | -10 | -60 | -50 | 11 | +2 | 841 | -21 | 214 | N/A | L | H | (1448) | -4,159 |
2117 | 214 | 822 | 7/21/2018 Dust storm | -19 | -64 | 43 | 1.075 | -8 | -61 | -53 | 11 | +3 | 841 | -19 | 215 | N/A | L | H | (1449) | |
2118 | 215 | 822 | 7/22/2018 Dust storm | -19 | -68 | 49 | 1.225 | -10 | -62 | -52 | 11 | +6 | 842 | -20 | 215 | N/A | L | H | (1450) | |
2119 | 216 | 824 | 7/23/2018 Dust storm | -16 | -69 | 53 | 1.325 | -8 | -62 | -54 | 8 | +7 | 842 | -18 | 216 | N/A | L | H | (1451) | -4,159 |
2120 | 216 | 828 | 7/24/2018 Dust storm | -16 | -67 | 51 | 1.275 | -8 | -61 | -53 | 8 | +6 | 845 | -17 | 217 | N/A | L | H | (1452) | |
2121 | 217 | 829 | 7/25/2018 Dust storm | -18 | -62 | 44 | 1.1 | -8 | -62 | -54 | 10 | 0 | 850 | -21 | 217 | N/A | L | VH | (1453) | |
2122 | 218 | 830 | 7/26/2018 Dust storm | -14 | -63 | 49 | 1.225 | -6 | -62 | -56 | 8 | +1 | 854 | -24 | 218 | N/A | L | H | (1454) | |
2123 | 218 | 831 | 7/27/2018 Dust storm | -18 | -68 | 50 | 1.25 | -6 | -63 | -57 | 12 | +5 | 858 | -27 | 219 | N/A | L | H | (1455) | |
2124 | 219 | 832 | 7/28/2018 Dust storm | -17 | -67 | 50 | 1.25 | -6 | -62 | -56 | 11 | +5 | 859 | -27 | 220 | N/A | L | H | (1456) | |
2125 | 219 | 834 | 7/29/2018 Dust storm | -17 | -66 | 49 | 1.225 | -7 | -62 | -55 | 10 | +4 | 860 | -26 | 220 | N/A | L | H | (1457) | |
2126 | 220 | 837 | 7/30/2018 Dust storm | -18 | -63 | 45 | 1.125 | -8 | -63 | -55 | 10 | 0 | 859 | -22 | 220 | N/A | L | H | (1458) | -4,163 |
2127 | 221 | 838 | 7/31/2018 Dust storm | -18 | -69 | 51 | 1.275 | -7 | -64 | -57 | 11 | +5 | 861 | -23 | 221 | N/A | L | H | (1459) | |
2128 | 221 | 841 | 8/1/2018 Dust storm | -20 | -65 | 45 | 1.125 | -7 | -62 | -55 | 13 | +3 | 865 | -24 | 222 | N/A | L | H | (1460) | -4,169 |
2129 | 222 | 843 | 8/2/2018 Dust Storm | -21 | -66 | 45 | 1.125 | -7 | -63 | -56 | 14 | +3 | 870 | -27 | 222 | N/A | L | H | (1461) | |
2130 | 223 | 844 | 8/3/2018 Dust storm | -18 | -62 | 44 | 1.1 | -7 | -63 | -56 | 11 | -1 | 871 | -25 | 223 | N/A | L | H | (1462) | |
2131 | 223 | 846 | 8/4/2018 Dust storm | -21 | -67 | 46 | 1.15 | -6 | -63 | -57 | 15 | +4 | 871 | -24 | 223 | N/A | L | H | (1463) | |
2132 | 224 | 847 | 8/5/2018 Dust Storm | -16 | -69 | 53 | 1.325 | -4 | -64 | -60 | 12 | +5 | 871 | -24 | 224 | N/A | L | H | (1464) | -4,170 |
2133 | 225 | 849 | 8/6/2018 Dust Storm | -18 | -65 | 47 | 1.175 | -3 | -65 | -62 | 15 | 0 | 870 | -21 | 225 | N/A | L | H | (1465) | |
2134 | 225 | 851 | 8/7/2018 Dust Storm | -14 | -65 | 51 | 1.275 | -3 | -66 | -63 | 11 | -1 | 873 | -22 | 226 | N/A | L | H | (1466) | |
2135 | 226 | 854 | 8/8/2018 Dust Storm | -15 | -66 | 51 | 1.275 | -3 | -66 | -63 | 12 | 0 | 877 | -23 | 226 | N/A | L | H | (1467) | |
2136 | 227 | 856 | 8/9/2018 Dust Storm | -13 | -66 | 53 | 1.325 | -3 | -65 | -62 | 10 | +1 | 879 | -23 | 227 | N/A | L | H | (1468) | |
2137 | 227 | 867 | 8/10/2018 Dust Storm | -13 | -66 | 53 | 1.325 | -2 | -70 | -68 | 11 | -4 | 881 | -14 | 228 | N/A | L | H | (1469) | |
2138 | 228 | 858 | 8/11/2018 Dust Storm | -16 | -68 | 52 | 1.3 | -2 | -65 | -63 | 14 | +3 | 879 | -21 | 228 | N/A | L | M | (1470) | |
2139 | 228 | 857 | 8/12/2018 Dust Storm | -11 | -70 | 59 | 1.475 | -1 | -66 | 65 | 10 | +4 | 880 | -23 | 229 | N/A | L | M | (1471) | |
2140 | 229 | 858 | 8/13/2018 Dust Storm Winding down. | -10 | -70 | 60 | 1.5 | 0 | -67 | 67 | 10 | +3 | 879 | -21 | 229 | N/A | M | M | (1472) | |
2141 | 230 | 863 | 8/14/2018 | -17 | -66 | 49 | 1.225 | 0 | -71 | 71 | 17 | -5 | 881 | -18 | 230 | N/A | M | M | (1473) | |
2142 | 230 | 865 | 8/15/2018 | -10 | -71 | 61 | 1.525 | -1 | -67 | 66 | 9 | +4 | 889 | -24 | 231 | N/A | L | M | (1474) | |
2143 | 231 | 865 | 8/17/2018 | -12 | -71 | 59 | 1.475 | 0 | -67 | 67 | 12 | +4 | 890 | -25 | 231 | N/A | M | M | (1475) | |
2144 | 232 | 867 | 8/18/2018 | -11 | -67 | 56 | 1.4 | 1 | -69 | 71 | 12 | -2 | 888 | -21 | 232 | N/A | L | H | (1476) | -4,181 |
2145 | 232 | 868 | 8/19/2018 | -10 | -66 | 56 | 1.4 | 0 | -66 | 66 | 10 | 0 | 888 | -20 | 233 | N/A | L | H | (1477) | |
2146 | 233 | 870 | 8/20/2018 | -10 | -67 | 57 | 1.425 | 1 | -67 | 68 | 11 | 0 | 887 | -17 | 233 | N/A | M | M | (1478) | |
2147 | 233 | 870 | 8/21/2018 | -15 | -68 | 53 | 1.325 | 0 | -67 | 67 | 15 | +1 | 890 | -20 | 234 | N/A | L | M | (1479) LAST LOW UV | |
2148 | 234 | 872 | 8/22/2018 DUST STORM OVER | -13 | -67 | 54 | 1.35 | 2 | -67 | 69 | 15 | 0 | 893 | -21 | 235 | N/A | M | H | (1480) | |
SOL | ~LS | PRESSURE Pa | EARTH DATE | MAX AIR TEMP °C | MIN AIR TEMP °C | AIR TEMP RANGE °C | AIR TEMP RANGE °C/40 | MAX GROUND TEMP °C | MIN GROUND TEMP °C | ∆ GROUND TEMP DAY TO NIGHT | DAYTIME CHANGE IN TEMP °C AIR TO GROUND | NIGHTTIME CHANGE IN TEMP °C AIR TO GROUND | PRESSURE AT SAME LS IN MSL LAST YEAR | ∆ PRESSURE LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR SAME LS | ~LS Last Year | PRESSURE LAST YEAR BEFORE REVISION | UV YR 4 | UV YR 3) |
11.2. Brief Summary of 2018 Dust Storm Data.
In general the REMS Team-generated dust storm data can be summarized as follows:
11.3 Possibility of a Biological Factor In Lifting Dust.
Saltation is a common answer to the question of how dust gets lifted into the Martian atmosphere. The problem is that the wind speeds do not appear to be great enough to lift the dust if it is only 1 μm. However if bacteria cling to the dust, then the combined particle size will grow. Bacterial cells range from about 1 to 10 microns in length and from 0.2 to 1 micron in width.
Life exists on dust on earth. Wikipedia states of dust mites that, "They are generally found on the floor and other surfaces until disturbed (by walking, for example). It could take somewhere between 20 minutes and 2 hours for dust mites to settle back down out of the air." Smithsonian.com states that, “Microbes have been found in the skies since Darwin collected windswept dust aboard the H.M.S. Beagle 1,000 miles west of Africa in the 1830s. But technologies for DNA analysis, high-altitude collection and atmospheric modeling are giving scientists a new look at crowded life high above Earth. For instance, recent research suggests that microbes are hidden players in the atmosphere, making clouds, causing rain, spreading diseases between continents and maybe even changing climates.”
So the idea that microbes could play a role in Martian dust storms is not as strange as it might appear. However, it's a long way from dust that just carries thoughtless bacteria to something as sinister as the dust storm portrayed in the film Mission to Mars. If there is microscopic life on Mars, there might be a mass spawning that occurs in conjunction with the rising dust. On Earth mass coral spawning is an annual phenomenon that usually occurs over several days to just over a week after a full moon. Depending on location, it happens at different times of year. For example, coral spawning in Curacao, Netherlands Antilles, normally occurs in September and October. Whereas the same happens at Australia’s Great Barrier Reef in spring.
11.3.1. Martian Dust Storm Seasons. For the Martian northern hemisphere Mars seasonal dust storms originate in two seasons, at solar longitude (Ls) 180 to 240° and Ls 305 to 350°. In the southern hemisphere seasonal dust storms usually originate between Ls 135 to 245°. So there is an overlap between Ls 180 to 240°. Length of days in hours at each Ls just mentioned is given in Table 15C below:
TABLE 15C LENGTH OF SOLS ON MARS AT KEY SOLAR LONGITUDES RELATED TO DUST STORMS | |||||||
Ls | Hemisphere where dust storms start | Northern hemisphere season | Southern hemisphere season | Day length hours at 45° North | Southern hemisphere season | Day length hours at 45° South | Day length at equator |
135 | southern | Mid summer | Mid winter | 14.89 | Mid winter | 9.85 | 12.35 |
180 | both | Start fall | Start spring | 12.36 | Start spring | 12.36 | 12.35 |
240 | both | fall | spring | 9.17 | spring | 15.57 | 12.35 |
245 | southern | Late fall | Late spring | 8.98 | Late spring | 15.76 | 12.35 |
305 | northern | Winter | summer | 9.36 | summer | 15.36 | 12.35 |
350 | northernnortnorther | Later winter | Late summer | 11.78 | Late summer | 12.95 | 12.35 |
11.4 Martian Dust Storms Paths and Radioactive Areas.
Wang and R.I. Richardson (2015) discuss three development styles for Martian dust storms.121 Most common are those travelling along the same route for at least 5 days. These they call “consecutive dust storms.” Another development style is through sequential activation of one segment of a route after another as the whole sequence advances forward. They call these “sequential activation dust storms.” Finally, a third development style is through the merging of dust from two or more initially separate sequences to create a contiguous dust cover. They will call these ‘‘merging dust storms.’’ This appeared to be a very effective way of making larger dust storms including the two global storms in their study of storms occurring between 1999 and 2011. Dust storms originating in the northern hemisphere can cross the equator, but dust storms originating in the southern hemisphere are more likely to go global. Wang and Richardson do not consider any biological origin that may involve merging caused by a desire of life forms to spawn with a diverse genetic population. The idea is mentioned here in case future studies prove the existence of bacteria or other organisms found in Martian dust.
Finally, we will note here that the three most radioactive areas on Mars (Acidalia, Utopia and Arcadia) also generate the most dust storms. See Figure 44.