|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The weather on Mars is very severe and very different from the Earth's weather in many ways. On Mars, temperatures can range from -225°F in fall and winter to 65°F in spring and summer. The extremely cold temperatures would surely make you freeze to death. There is a possibility of temperatures rising to as high as 72°F to 74°F, but because Mars has no ozone layer your skin would be brutally burnt from the effects of solar radiation.
Violent storms occur on Mars. Photos from the Mars Global Surveyor show that the planet of Mars experiences some heavy and dangerous flooding. These floods are caused by long term rainfall which is so heavy that storm clouds virtually cover half of the Red Planet. In addition, these floods are so destructive that they have been recorded to burst dammed up craters with waters traveling at more than 100 m.p.h. Michael C. Malin, a research scientist on the Mars Observer Team, had analyzed one of these violent floods. He stated that "the water flow was 1,000 times greater than floods that have struck the U.S. Midwest
in recent years."
On Mars there have also been major dust storms. These storms were clocked at speeds of 350 m.p.h. These dust storms are so forceful that they would surely destroy anything in their paths.
Like Earth, Mars has four distinct seasons, but Mars' seasons are very long in comparison to Earth's. The reason for this is that Mars' orbit around the sun compared to earth is elliptical, and Mars is farther away from the sun.
Click here to view a diagram of Mars' and Earth's orbit around the sun. Click here to take the Weather/Season quiz and get your stamp.
Seasons Earth Mars (Northern Hemisphere) ( in days) (in Earth days) Spring
93
171
Summer
94
199
Fall
89
171
Winter
89
146
 |
| Acknowledgments | Authors | Just for Teachers | | Message Board | Guestbook | E-mail Us  |
Take Our Mars Madness Poll |
 |