Mars Express Images Reveal Gigantic Dust Devils in Mamers Valles

The High Resolution Stereo Camera aboard the orbiter detected approximately 30 distinct dust devils, appearing as yellow dots with trailing pinkish shadows across the northern landscape. While these vortices mirror the mechanics of dry, dusty environments on Earth, their scale and intensity far exceed terrestrial counterparts. Scientists note that these wind speeds, reaching 158 km/h, outpace any measurements previously recorded by surface-bound rovers.

Formed when solar radiation heats the Martian surface, causing localized air columns to rise and entrain dust, these features highlight the dynamic nature of the planet's atmosphere. The Mamers Valles region itself stretches nearly 1,000 kilometers and dates back to the Late Noachian epoch, roughly 3.8 billion years ago. Mars Express has monitored this area periodically since 2008, providing a longitudinal view of how one of the solar system’s oldest canyon networks interacts with modern Martian weather.