News Planetary Science

Mars has nighttime snow storms

Cloud cooling and speedy winds lead to rapid winterlike storms, simulations show

FROZEN POLES  New simulations suggest that nighttime cooling of clouds of water-ice can create rapid plumes of snow that might deposit some of the snow seen at Mars’ poles.

NASA, ESA,The Hubble Heritage Team/STScI/AURA

By Ashley Yeager

- More than 2 years ago

Nighttime may be snow-time on Mars.

Low evening temperatures could cool clouds and trigger turbulent winds that fuel fast-falling snowstorms on the Red Planet, new simulations suggest.