Prediction of the scientist based on the results of long-term monitoring of the Martian winds.
American astronomer James Shirley (James Shirley) argues that in the next few months on Mars will start a global dust storm. A statement published on the NASA website.
Prediction of the scientist based on the results of long-term monitoring of the Martian winds and conditions of their occurrence.
Small dust storms always occur on the red planet. When Mars is close to the Sun, these local storms merge, capturing entire regions of the planet. In rare cases, rise into the atmosphere clouds of dust that envelop the entire planet. The last Martian global dust storm occurred in 2007, causing nearly stopped working solar panels of the Rovers Spirit and Opportunity.
Because these storms seriously hamper the exploration of Mars, as well as jeopardize the work of missions to the red planet’s surface, astronomers are trying to develop methods for their prediction. Shirley found a link between global dust storms and the orbital motion of Mars. It turned out that the other planets have an effect on the momentum of its orbit. This effect varies over the cycle duration 2.2 years. With the global storms occur when the period of increase of the pulse coincides with the first part of the season of dust storms.
In the article the scientist noted that the current conditions of the season of dust storms correspond to those that favor global storms. Monitor the Martian atmosphere for the next few months will help to check whether the prediction is correct.
