Chapter 1: The Allure of Mars

Mars has captivated human imagination like no other celestial body.

In fact, throughout history, this Red Planet has been viewed as a potential distant haven for life beyond Earth. While this notion has largely faded, Mars continues to intrigue us with its striking crimson surface, marked by valleys that tell stories of water flow — a vital element for life as we know it. However, present-day Mars is a desolate, arid world where dust storms frequently occur. Yet, approximately every decade, an extraordinary event takes place: a colossal storm envelops the planet in a vast blanket of swirling sand.

In November 2019, researchers from NASA reported that various spacecraft had successfully monitored the life cycle of the formidable global dust storm of 2018, which ultimately curtailed the mission of the Opportunity rover. Currently, scientists are still analyzing the new data, grappling with its implications. Recently published studies have provided fresh insights into dust storms, particularly regarding the formation of dust towers. These towers develop as solar heat lifts sand particles into the atmosphere. Researchers speculate that water vapor could also ascend within these dust clouds, resembling an elevator effect, potentially offering explanations for the gradual loss of Martian water over billions of years.

The first video delves into the science behind Martian dust storms, featuring insights from "THE MARTIAN Science: DUST STORMS on Mars." This video explores the dynamics and implications of dust storms on the Martian landscape.

Section 1.1: Historical Context of Water on Mars

Our solar system is approximately 4.6 billion years old. Evidence suggests that around 3.8 billion years ago, Mars might have possessed a denser atmosphere and warmer conditions, allowing for abundant liquid water. This could have included a vast ocean covering a third of the planet. Presently, most water on Mars exists as ice, although some is also gaseous in its atmosphere. The only surface water ice is found at the northern polar cap, while significant ice reserves are believed to be hidden beneath the southern carbon dioxide cap and in warmer subsurface areas.

Recent discoveries have identified over 21 million kilometers of water sources on or near the Martian surface, enough to cover the entire planet to a depth of 115 feet. This water likely exists as ice, with dust accumulation due to the planet's dry conditions. A prominent feature of Martian weather is the formation of dust towers — massive clouds that rise above the background dust.

Subsection 1.1.1: Formation and Impact of Dust Towers

These towers typically initiate at the surface, originating as rapidly moving dust areas comparable in size to Rhode Island. When these dust towers ascend to heights of 50 kilometers, as observed during the 2018 global storm, they can expand to the width of Nevada. Upon collapse, they may create a dust layer extending 35 kilometers into the atmosphere, potentially larger than the entire continental United States.

The findings regarding Martian dust towers were made possible by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), which is operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California. Even amidst dense dust coverage, the MRO can penetrate the atmosphere utilizing its Mars Climate Sounder instrument, specifically designed to gauge dust levels. Data from this instrument, combined with visuals from the Mars Context Imager (MARC), has allowed scientists to observe numerous expanding dust towers.

Chapter 2: Understanding Martian Atmospheric Dynamics

The second video, "Martian Dust Devils And Global Dust Storms," offers an in-depth look at how these phenomena interact and shape the Martian atmosphere, providing critical insights into the planet's climatic behavior.

Mars, the fourth planet from the Sun and the second smallest in the solar system, is named after the Roman god of war, reflecting its distinct red hue caused by iron oxide. The planet's solid surface features resemble both lunar landscapes and Earth’s polar caps and valleys. Interestingly, the rotation period and axial tilt of Mars are similar to those of Earth, leading to comparable visitor dates and times.

Mars is home to Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the solar system, and Valles Marineris, one of the most extensive canyon systems known. The Borealis Basin, covering 40% of Mars, is believed to be the largest impact scar from a colossal collision. Mars also possesses two small moons, Phobos and Deimos, considered to be captured asteroids.

Historically, Mars has been observed since ancient times. Egyptian astronomers noted its movements around 1534 BCE. Babylonian astronomers meticulously tracked planetary positions, including Mars, while Aristotle in the 4th century BCE recognized it as being farther from Earth than our Moon.

In modern history, astronomers like Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler advanced our understanding of Mars's distance from Earth using early telescopic measurements.

As we delve deeper into Martian studies, researchers are assessing the planet's past habitability and the potential for life. Future missions, including the Mars 2020 and Rosalind Franklin rovers, aim to uncover more about the Red Planet's enigmatic history.

Despite the ongoing dust tower formations throughout the year, the MRO team found something unique about the 2018 global dust storm. Dr. Nicholas Heavens noted that typically dust settles within days; however, during this storm, towers persisted for several weeks, with some cycles lasting nearly four weeks.

Dr. Heavens and his team are particularly intrigued by the dust tower's potential role as an "elevator" for transporting other materials within the Martian atmosphere. As the dust is heated, it forms layers that can carry gases and tiny water vapors, creating the ethereal clouds sometimes seen on Mars.

Previous studies by Dr. Heavens indicated that during the global storm of 2007, elevated water levels reached the upper atmosphere, where solar radiation could break them down into smaller particles. This phenomenon may provide crucial insights into how Mars lost its rivers and lakes over billions of years, transforming into the barren landscape observed today.

Despite limited understanding of how global dust storms originate — with only about a dozen such events studied — the MRO team is eager to collect more data. Dr. David Kass remarked, "Earth does not have phenomena like this, where a climate can shift globally in just a few months."