Friction between dust particles on Mars probably produces electrical discharges kin to lightning , new research has encounter . However , the sparks are modest congener of Earth ’s mighty bolt and pose no scourge to wanderer , nor future human explorers .
Mars has so much all right dust storms , it can sometimes enclose almost the entire planet , rudely interruptingour effective views . Despite the deficiency of rain cloud , scientist have worried since the day of the first landers whether these corpuscle could remove electrons when bumping into each other , generating electric line of business potent enough to produce powerful discharges . The fact no lander or rover seem to have been damaged in this way suggests the danger is not too enceinte , withlost missionshaving more likely explanation .
VolcanologistProfessor Josef Dufekof the University of Oregon has created a model of such storm using the closest Earth materials . InIcarusDufek and co - authors report discharge credibly occur , but are too weak to pose much threat . Humans and our golem emissaries will be protect by the limited capacity of the Martian atmosphere to stash away direction .
" We were interested in go after this employment because of the number of fresh missions to Mars and the potential difference of constraining observations , ” Dufek said in astatement .
A distinctive Martian electrical discharge would have an electric flying field of about 20,000 volts per metre , Dufek reports . telling as that sounds , on Earth 3 million volt per meter is not unusual , create the spectacular phenomena we are familiar with , often withextraordinary consequences .
" Our experiment , and those of others before us , suggest that on Mars it is easy to get spark when you shake guts or dust , " cobalt - author Joshua Méndez Harpersaid . " However , it may be hard , even in enceinte detritus violent storm or within detritus devils , to get very large venting or ceremonious lightning . ”
Experiments have been conducted before to test the prospects of lightning on Mars , but these had known flaws . Not only were the junk particles used non - Martian , but they contacted the walls of the containers in which the experimentation were pass . “ The interaction of two chemically - dissimilar materials can produce more intense charging than the interaction between two chemically - very cloth , ” the newspaper notes .
course , Dufek and Méndez Harper could n’t obtain any actual Mars dust , but they observe the similarities between what is there and pulverized basaltic ash from Mexico ’s 2,000 - yr - honest-to-god Xitle volcanic eruption . They swirl these in 8 millibars of carbon copy dioxide , representing the scantily - there Martian standard atmosphere , inside a drinking glass underground wide enough the atom never touch the walls .
The result are less consanguineal to terrestrial lightning and closer to the small - scale of measurement discharges that occur in volcanic vents on Earth , the newspaper concludes .
All of which suggests themajor inaccuracyin the otherwise scientifically reliable book / film The Martian remains . rubble rage on Mars may be direful for visibility but are unlikely to make anything severe enough to force quick elimination .
