The Onset and Growth of the 2018 Martian Global Dust Storm

We analyze the onset and initial expansion of the 2018 Martian Global Dust Storm (GDS 2018) using ground-based images in the visual range. This is the first case of a confirmed GDS initiating in the Northern Hemisphere. A dusty area extending about 1.4×105 km2 and centered at latitude +31.7°±1.8° an...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Sánchez Lavega, Agustín María, Del Río Gaztelurrutia, María Teresa, Hernández Bernal, Jorge, Delcroix, Marc
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2019
País:España
Institución:Universidad del País Vasco
Repositorio:Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigación
OAI Identifier:oai:addi.ehu.eus:10810/63657
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10810/63657
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:mars
atmosphere
dust
Descripción
Sumario:We analyze the onset and initial expansion of the 2018 Martian Global Dust Storm (GDS 2018) using ground-based images in the visual range. This is the first case of a confirmed GDS initiating in the Northern Hemisphere. A dusty area extending about 1.4×105 km2 and centered at latitude +31.7°±1.8° and west longitude 18°±5°W in Acidalia Planitia was captured on 30 and 31 May 2018 (Ls = 184.9°). From 1 to 8 June, daily image series showed the storm expanding southward along the Acidalia corridor with velocities of 5 m/s and simultaneously progressing eastward and westward with horizontal velocities ranging from 5 to 40 m/s. By 8 June the dust reached latitude -55° and later penetrated in the South polar region, whereas in the North the dust progression stopped at latitude approximately +46°. We compare the onset and expansion stage of this GDS with the previous confirmed storms.