● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 neutral
Martian cloud model suggests previously unobserved atmospheric physics
Key points
- A 1,000-mile cloud forms daily near Mars' Arsia Mons.
- Scientists successfully modeled the cloud's formation.
- The model required including previously theoretical physics.
- This physics has not been observed in nature before.
Martian Cloud Mystery Solved
A long-standing mystery surrounding a 1,000-mile cloud on Mars, known as the Arsia Mons Elongated Cloud (AMEC), has been addressed by new research. This cloud forms daily during the Martian spring and summer near the volcano Arsia Mons, elongating significantly before dissipating, a cycle observed since 2018.
Exotic Physics Required for Modeling
Researchers successfully modeled the cloud's formation for the first time. The model's accuracy depended on incorporating "exotic physics" that, while theoretically described in textbooks, has not been directly observed in action within any planetary atmosphere. Jorge Hernández-Bernal, lead author of the study, stated that including this physics allowed the AMEC to emerge in simulations as expected.
Implications for Atmospheric Science
The successful modeling of the AMEC with these previously unobserved physical processes suggests new understandings in atmospheric science. This discovery could lead to a re-evaluation of atmospheric dynamics on other planets, including Earth, where such phenomena might exist but remain undetected or unmodeled.
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Reporting from
Researchers have successfully modeled the formation of the 1,000-mile-long Arsia Mons Elongated Cloud (AMEC) on Mars. The model suggests the cloud's formation is driven by a physical process not previously observed in any planetary atmosphere, indicating new insights into atmospheric physics.