Dust Devils on Mars

[Kahless]

Hi. I am wrapping up my science fiction novel and was wondering if anyone had some input here.

I read that the Martian dust devil will lift some of the heavier basaltic sand to a certain height, but the very fine dust is what gets suspended a great heights. I also found that the wind speeds were from 100-230 mph.

Q)What would happen if a pilot in a space suit got caught in a Martian Dust Devil. Would it have enough force to move him around, and would it be dangerous?


Kahless

[FirBirGir]

Hi Kahless,

The atmosphere on Mars is very thin, about .7% of that on Earth. A 100mph wind would do very little on Mars compared to here. So it's unlikely that a dust storm or tornado on Mars would be detrimental to a person in a space suit, except what the dust could do.

Eddy

[Kahless]

Hi Eddie. I was thinking more in line of the abrasive effect that the heavier basaltic rock dust swirling around the pilot at up to 240 mph. True the air is thin, but the wind forces are set in motion with considerable force electrically, according to one main theory. Pictures I have seen of real dust devils there show the lower parts of the devil's with their dust fairly dense, and moving fast. Keep in mind the Dust density doesn't rely on atmospheric pressure in the case of Martian Dust storms and devils.

My first thought was that the dust devil 'sand blasted' the suit off of the pilot and continued to peel his flesh off, though I do not know if the effect would be that severe. In my researching this, one scientist called them electric tornadoes because of the theory that the atmosphere and ground acted as a capacitor that builds up a charge and that discharges from the ground up, lifting the dust and sand up and spinning it with great force. The Earth would do this, too, except that the atmosphere has lightning storms that cause the 'capacitor' to be leaky.

Any ideas about how much of an effect, sand swirling around someone from 100-240 mph would have on someone in a spacesuit?

Kahless

[hitchcockgreen]

It wouldn't be good.
If you haven't already, read Kim Stanley Robinson's Red Mars. It's actually a trilogy (Red Mars, Blue Mars, Green Mars) but the first is the best one.
It's very thoroughly researched and dust storms come up as a fairly frequent event. The author spent a lot of time with scientists and ended up becoming a board member of the Mars Society.

[Blunt Force Trauma]

Static charges would be a big concern in a several ways.

Wind residence would be low, but you're exactly right, the mass that IS lifted from the atmosphere and carried at high velocity would impart a 'sand-blasting' effect.

Another aspect of the Mars soil is it is not eroded at anywhere near the rate it is on on earth, meaning the particles are much sharper than here on earth. No where near razor sharp as on the moon, where there's zero erosion and breathing it can be life threatening.. . .like breathing chemically toxic fiberglass dust.

[Dx.]

The moonwalkers reported irritation and discomfort from exposure to dust, with symptoms ranging from sneezing, watery eyes and a peculiar smell resembling gunpowder.

It's not like they was breathing it on the moon but all that from a dusty suits when back in the craft... i bet they circulated the dust in the ship.

[Kahless]

Thanx everyone. I think I'll pick up the book Red Mars as suggested. Good to know about the lack of erosion on the particles. hadn't seen that anywhere. So far in the setting I had only mentioned the effect of someone hit by the dust devil, but it was in passing, like after the event. This has the potential to be very exciting as an event happening. I think I will check out what the other guy had to say and rewrite the event.

Kahless