Scientists Map Red Planet's Global Wind Patterns For The First Time

Mars' global wind patterns have been outlined for the first time by scientists who have been studying the Red Planet's atmosphere. The team had to remotely re-program NASA's MAVEN satellite, which has been orbiting around Mars since 2013 to obtain the data needed for the study.

Researchers from the University of Maryland in Baltimore, whose study was published on Science Documents, examined the environment for two days per month for a span of over two years - from 2016 to 2018.

Ripple effect

They discovered that the wind circulation patterns in Mars' upper atmosphere were stable depending on the season; however, that wasn't the case for shorter-term winds.

The team says the data acquired from Mars will help notify similar studies on Earth and help other researchers to understand the planetary environment better. 

Mehdi Benna, study's lead author, pointed out that the Red Planet's average circulation is steady, but the winds are "highly variable" at any given time.

"The [extraordinary] thing [we have noticed] is that the patterns in the upper atmosphere match what one would predict from models," says Benna. 

However, the lead author said more research is required to know why these contrasting patterns exist.

The winds miles above the surface, which also surprised the team, could retain information regarding Mars' landforms. Canyons, mountains, and basins held on within the seasonal winds despite blowing up to 170 miles above the surface. 

The air mass created waves that flow up to the upper atmosphere and could be identified by MAVEN's equipment. "We see the same kind of [waves on Earth] but not at such high altitudes," Benna narrated.

Researchers based the Mars findings on local observations instead of indirect measurements - unlike measurements acquired on Earth's upper atmosphere.

The average difference between geographic peaks and valleys is much higher on Mars compared to what Earth has, according to the study. Mountains on Mars usually measure 12 miles (20 kilometers) tall, while Mount Everest is just over 5.5 miles (8.8 kilometers) tall. Most terrestrial mountains on Earth are also much shorter than those on the Red Planet.

"[Mars' topography] is driving this in a more [obvious] way than it is on Earth," Benna says.

Forging ahead

The researchers plan to continue analyzing the data from the study as they assume it will help them determine whether the same fundamental processes are in effect in Earth's upper atmosphere.

"We had to go take these measurements on Mars [to understand the same phenomenon on Earth eventually]," Benna said. "The results would help us know the climate on Mars," Benna added.

The team plans to forge on as they already have two years' worth of data but want more to acquire a more detailed picture. 

"It's a trove of [data] that [could] be [measured] in [unimagined ways], to learn even more about how planets work', Benna said.

MAVEN, as part of its original mission, exposed that solar wind and radiation were held responsible for stripping the Martian atmosphere. 

Researchers hope that this latest information on Martian wind will be useful in mapping the process for better understanding of its workings.