Mars experiences massive dust storms that can grow to cover the entire planet, last for weeks to months, and pose serious challenges for exploration and solar‑powered equipment
Scale and duration
Occasionally localized storms interact and expand until optically thick suspended dust blankets nearly the entire planet for weeks to months, making global dust storms the most dramatic weather events on Mars.
Causes and mechanisms
Strong winds, dust devils and regional storm systems lift surface dust into the thin atmosphere where it can be transported globally, and recent analyses show stronger near‑surface winds and frequent whirlwinds that help sustain and spread dust during storm seasons.
Effects on exploration
Global and regional dust storms reduce sunlight reaching the surface, degrade visibility and can significantly curtail power for solar‑dependent rovers and landers, creating operational hazards and complicating mission planning.
Thermal and environmental impact
Suspended dust alters the thermal structure of the atmosphere, changing heating and cooling patterns at the surface and in some cases reducing daytime temperatures while redistributing heat globally during the storm event.
Scientific and operational challenges
These storms highlight the dynamic nature of Mars’s atmosphere, drive ongoing research into predictability and triggers, and require mission designers to account for dust accumulation, power loss and visibility reduction when planning long‑duration surface operations.
Takeaway
Mars’s dust storms are the largest in the Solar System, capable of planet‑wide coverage and prolonged persistence, and they remain a central consideration for robotic and future human exploration efforts.