Mars has completed its orbit around the Sun, marking the start of a new year on the Red Planet. However, the Martian year is different from Earth’s in several ways, particularly in the northern hemisphere where spring arrives with a bang.
Unlike Earth, where winter brings cold temperatures and melting ice, Mars’ wispy atmosphere causes water ice to sublime directly into gas, leading to violent changes as ice weakens and breaks. This sudden transition results in frost avalanches crashing down cliffsides, carbon dioxide gas explosions, and powerful winds that reshape the north pole.
Researchers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory are studying these phenomena using cameras and sensors aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). They have captured images of massive carbon dioxide frost chunks falling from the sky and gas geysers blasting out dark fans of sand and dust.
The southern hemisphere will experience its own unique spring activity in December 2025, offering researchers a chance to study these phenomena up close. The study of Martian springtime is helping scientists improve their understanding of the forces shaping the dynamic Martian surface.
One of the most fascinating aspects of Martian spring is the powerful winds that carve swirling troughs into the ice cap at the north pole. These troughs act as channels for wind gusts, causing sand dunes to migrate and reshape the landscape over time.
By studying these phenomena, scientists are gaining a deeper understanding of the seasonal changes on Mars, which offer valuable insights into the Red Planet’s unique geology and climate.
Source: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news