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Mars’ Giant Arsia Mons Cloud Is Stranger Than Scientists Thought

Lead author Jorge Hernández-Bernal said the study provides the first observation of “homogeneous nucleation” in a planetary atmosphere.

,   and  TIPP Staff
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Scientist explore the 'exotic physics' behind Mars' 'oddest cloud'. Pic via(@nypost)

Scientists have identified a rare atmospheric process behind one of Mars’ most unusual weather features, the Arsia Mons Elongated Cloud, according to a study published Wednesday in Nature Geoscience.

The cloud stretches more than 1,100 miles and appears almost daily during Martian spring and summer as winds rise along the slopes of the 12-mile-high Arsia Mons volcano.

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Using simulations based on data from the European Space Agency’s Mars Express mission, researchers found that temperatures can fall by about 54 degrees Fahrenheit within 10 minutes, producing humidity levels roughly 100,000 times higher than typical conditions on Earth.

Lead author Jorge Hernández-Bernal said the study provides the first observation of “homogeneous nucleation” in a planetary atmosphere. The process occurs when water vapor freezes without requiring dust particles as surfaces for ice formation.

Researchers said the discovery highlights how atmospheric processes can differ dramatically between planets and could inform future exploration and studies of potential extraterrestrial environments.

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