Are Mars and Earth similar? New clues have emerged
27 Mar, 2025
Credit: Nasa, Getty
These are wave-like disturbances traveling through a planet’s atmosphere, similar to ripples on water. Scientists studied their impact on Mars’ climate.
Atmospheric Waves
The study used data from OMEGA, an instrument aboard the Mars Express space mission, operated by the European Space Agency.
Data Source
Researchers examined 263 groups of atmospheric waves, focusing on 125 of them to understand key climate phenomena.
Extensive Analysis
The study identified dry ice waves, water waves, and dust storms as significant atmospheric occurrences on Mars.
Three Major Findings
Identifying cloud patterns was difficult, as Martian clouds are rare and scattered, requiring researchers to sift through vast image databases.
Biggest Challenge
The study found greater climate asymmetry between Mars' northern and southern hemispheres than previously believed.
Key Discovery
Scientists Francisco Brasil and Pedro Machado are now developing a new method to observe both atmospheric waves and wind fields, further enhancing our understanding of Mars.