Dust Devil Migration Patterns Reveal Strong Near-surface Winds across Mars

Abstract

Dust devil migration is a direct expression of the dynamics of the lowermost martian atmosphere. These dynamics are responsible for dust lifting and atmospheric injection, a vital part of the dust cycle that governs modern Mars’ weather and climate. Here, we use deep learning and two decades’ worth of orbital images to track the global, diurnal, and seasonal migration patterns of dust devils across Mars, providing a distributed characterization of the dynamics of near-surface winds. Across Mars, derived wind stresses systematically exceed those predicted by global circulation models and frequently surpass the threshold required to initiate particle saltation and the lifting of dust. We identify instances of fast-moving dust devils, indicating strong near-surface winds, that are colocated with large-scale dust lifting events and storms. Our observations show that strong near-surface winds are abundant on Mars and play an important role in atmospheric dust sourcing, directly informing more accurate models of Mars’ atmosphere, weather, and climate.