New research suggests that dust storms on Mars could interact with solar storms to alter the planet’s lower atmosphere, offering fresh insight into how Martian weather behaves.
Scientists found evidence that temperatures in the lower atmosphere increased when a powerful solar energetic particle (SEP) event coincided with a global dust storm.
The findings come from researchers at Lancaster University, the University of Leicester, and the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía-CSIC in Spain.
Their analysis indicates that while solar storms alone showed little impact on lower atmospheric temperatures, the combination of intense solar activity and widespread Martian dust storms may produce effects not previously recognised.
The research points to a more intricate Martian climate system than earlier studies suggested. If confirmed by future observations, the results could improve atmospheric models and help scientists better understand weather conditions on the Red Planet.
Investigating the link between solar activity and Martian weather
The research team examined five long-duration SEP events to determine whether charged particles released during solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) could influence Mars’ lower atmosphere, where clouds, winds, and weather processes occur.
Solar energetic particles are known to affect Mars because the planet lacks both a thick atmosphere and a global magnetic field capable of shielding it from radiation.
Previous studies have linked these events to changes in the upper atmosphere, including ionisation, aurora-like phenomena, and disruptions to radio communications.
However, their potential influence closer to the planet’s surface has remained largely unexplored.
One event stood apart
Of the five SEP events analysed, four showed no measurable warming in the lower atmosphere. The fifth, which occurred in June 2018, coincided with a massive global dust storm that spread across Mars and ultimately ended NASA’s Opportunity rover mission.
During this period, researchers detected an unexpected increase in lower atmospheric temperatures.
The study drew on observations from NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) spacecraft alongside atmospheric measurements collected by the European Space Agency’s Trace Gas Orbiter.
These observations were compared with simulated temperature profiles from the Mars Climate Database to identify changes before, during, and after each solar event.
Why must we understand dust storms on Mars?
Dust storms on Mars are already known to influence the planet’s climate by absorbing solar radiation and warming parts of the atmosphere.
However, the temperature pattern recorded during the June 2018 event did not match what scientists would normally expect from a dust storm acting alone.
This led researchers to investigate whether the simultaneous arrival of energetic particles from the Sun could have enhanced or altered the atmospheric response.
Interestingly, dust storms were not the original focus of the investigation. Scientists only explored their role after discovering that atmospheric heating appeared during one event but not during the other four.
The findings raise the possibility that multiple environmental processes may interact to shape Martian weather rather than operating independently.
More observations are needed
Although the results are promising, the researchers emphasise that a single observation cannot establish a definitive relationship between solar energetic particles and Martian dust storms.
Additional studies capturing future SEP events during active dust storm seasons will be necessary to determine whether the same pattern consistently occurs or whether other atmospheric factors contributed to the observed warming.
According to the research team, this possible interaction between solar energetic particles, dust storms, and lower atmospheric heating has not previously been examined.
Improving future models of Mars
If future observations confirm the findings, they could reshape understanding of the Martian atmosphere and improve climate models used by planetary scientists.
More accurate atmospheric modelling would support future robotic and human missions by providing better predictions of temperature changes during periods of heightened solar activity and intense dust storms on Mars.
The study also highlights the importance of considering how different space weather and atmospheric processes work together, rather than examining each phenomenon in isolation.
As more missions continue to observe Mars, researchers hope to determine whether these combined effects are a regular feature of the planet’s climate or an exceptionally rare occurrence.
