(2019 Archived) ARGUMENT IX: Global Dust Storms on Mars vs. Strong Upper-Weather on Venus

Having written this in 2019, and originally published in 2021.. when I was 15 and 17, there would be inaccuracies that I would correct here. Having removed it, I'm publishing  again, for sake of completion so that the efforts wouldn't have gone to vain: Most of this still stands true 

The red planet is infamous for his goliath Duststorms and towering dust-devils; especially for the Duststorms, which could grow to be monstrously large, enough to engulf Mars itself! There have been times where these global Duststorms rendered the Martian surface features to be inconceivable, until they die-off after some long periods of time. In-situ observations on the Martian surface measured the highest surface winds to be 30-50ms^-1 [33]!

The Martians would have to stay put in their bases, which would have to be strongly build to resist the winds of the storms, until the storm passes – which again, is a very long time. Another threat of the Martian Duststorms isn’t the wind, rather the wind-blown particles. Martian dust is quite sharp and fine, which gives it an extraordinary abrasive property ^[33]. Prolonged abrasion under a Duststorms could wear-out important structures, which could be devastating for structures which saw many Duststorms. Furthermore, the winds could run-over any unprotected structures, and potentially disrupt communication and various systems.

Another risk associated with Duststorms is with regard to entry and exit to Mars: When a crew leaves for Mars, it would take ~7 months to get there – seven months could be enough for a Duststorm to reincarnate, and wreak havoc on the EDL (Entry, Descent and Landing) procedure, which could sway into a calamity, with plausible fatalities ^[32].

Still, I believe the principal risk to be due to static electricity, generated by the triboelectric effect: “recent laboratory and terrestrial desert studies indicate that triboelectric effects within Duststorms can give rise to large electric fields which might prove hazardous to both explorers and equipment”^[32]. You see, Martian dust is very fine, and very dry: For this reason, individual particles would generate static charges that are capable of amalgamating into a single massive electric field, which might earth itself as lightning – immensely powerful lightning, that is. These electric fields could distort Martian power, induce large magnetic forces, and disrupt essential systems and much more.

Throughout the Duststorm, the Martians wouldn’t be able to go outside, which would mean that no EVA and essential outdoor activities could be done. It would hinder productivity of those related activities, which would leave that stuff behind schedule. Similarly, I believe that there might be shortages in power. Receiving ~ 35% less solar energy than the Earth is devastating enough – Losing nearly all of it would be crossing the line between life-and-death. Being unable to see the surface during a Duststorm would mean that the Martians are unable to see the sky. It would in-turn mean that, the Martian surface would be critically dark, with little-to-no solar energy. No solar energy is synonymous to no power, and no power is synonymous to death. Surely, there would be back-up storages of power in case of such scenarios; but whether they might outlast the Duststorm, is questionable. By the way, it isn’t just the Duststorm it has to outlast – rather, until the moment the dust clears-off. The fine nature of Martian dust also means that they would linger around the atmosphere, even after the Duststorm passes ^[33]. I would take a while for the dust to clear-off, and it would leave the surface pretty much dim. During the entire episode of Duststorm and dust-cover, the Martians would have to survive with the minimal power possible and maintain many expensive back-up systems that would run without any extra-ambient-energy, which would work for long times.

Another thing to be weary of is the damage caused. Again, no insurance company would be willing to compensate damaged Martian property, leaving the Martians to do it themselves. They might even have to do so without Earth-support, due to potential knock-down of interplanetary communication, due to the Duststorm. Especially during the infancy of Martian civilization, Duststorms would pose an unavoidable threat, perhaps even during civilizationary maturity – property damage could be immense for unprotected objects, and vital communication and transportation systems could turn out un-usable. But, how does Venus compare? The Venusians live in the Venusian atmosphere, so they’d have to face devastating weather too, isn’t it? ... Or would they?    

The major weather-related phenomenon that the Venusians would have to confront would be the super-rotation of the upper-atmosphere. This phenomenon doesn’t do any bad; it is rather quite helpful – the Venusians use this phenomenon to obtain a regular day-night patter, and circumnavigate Venus every 4 days. The other entities which make-up Venusian weather are quite perpetual and quite very predictable. This predictable nature of Venusian weather is quite helpful in adjusting cloud-archipelago or cloud-city migrations accordingly. Still, Weather above the Venusian cloud-tops are relatively calm, with the super-rotational winds barely felt. There wouldn’t be a cloud in their sky to prevent the Venusians from having a blue and sunny day ^[1]!

Drawing parallels to the weather patterns on Mars and Venus, we can find many reasons for Venusian weather and climate to being safer and easier to deal with: (1) The Martians would have to survive underground in their bases for a long time, until the Duststorm passes and the dust settled. (2) EVA and outdoor activities are un-conductible and left behind schedule. (3) Solar Energy is unable to reach the Martian surface, potentially leaving the Martians without energy and relying on expensive back-ups. (4) Abrasive properties of Martian dust could wear-off structures in prolonged exposure to Duststorms. (5) Suddenly formed Duststorms could mess with the EDL procedure, and cause fatalities. (6) The triboelectric effect during a Duststorms could give rise to strong electric fields that could cause damage. (7) The damages of communication, transportation and related essential systems must be repaired after the storm passes. (8) Irreversible destruction by Duststorms could have deadly consequences to Martian colonies. (9) Atmospheric super-rotation in Venus is essential in circumnavigation and day-night cycle. (10) Venusian weather is predictable and perpetual, meaning that they could be dealt with easily. (11) The Venusian weather above cloud-tops is pretty calm, blue, and sunny and not dangerous. Therefore,the worst of Venusian Upper-atmospheric weather conditions are still calm, and much easier and safer to deal with than the Martian Duststorms.

[33] David, L. (2013, January 13). Toxic Mars: Astronauts must deal with perchlorate on the Red planet. [Retrieved from https://www.space.com/21554-mars-toxic-perchlorate-chemicals.html].

Achinthya Nanayakkara (30.03.2025)

Originally published - 2021 (now removed)

Originally written - 2019