Faculty Mentor Information
Dr. Brian Jackson, Boise State University; and Dr. Racine Cleveland, Boise State University
Additional Funding Sources
Funding for this project comes from the National Science Foundation PAARE program, IDAstro (boi.st/idastro), grant #2424470.
Presentation Date
7-15-2026
Abstract
For this project, we are estimating the frequency of dust devils on Mars using data from the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover. Dust devils are rotating columns of air that form when uneven surface heating, caused by solar insolation, creates localized instability. The resulting vortex produces a characteristic dip in atmospheric pressure. To detect these dips in atmospheric pressure, we have analyzed data collected by the MEDA (Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer) sensor suite aboard the Perseverance rover. Using Python-based tools, we tailor code to visualize the meteorological data (e.g, pressure and temperature) to find dips in pressure that may correspond to the passage of dust devils near the rover. Our preliminary results confirm that these vortices are a common occurrence on Mars. Dust devils are believed to be one of the foremost driving factors in the distribution of dust in the Martian atmosphere. By investigating these phenomena, we are advancing understanding of the Martian climate, which will allow for greater planning and risk assessment for future exploration of the Martian surface. For this presentation, we will summarize our team’s progress and discuss future work.
Analyzing Atmospheric Vortices on the Martian Surface
For this project, we are estimating the frequency of dust devils on Mars using data from the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover. Dust devils are rotating columns of air that form when uneven surface heating, caused by solar insolation, creates localized instability. The resulting vortex produces a characteristic dip in atmospheric pressure. To detect these dips in atmospheric pressure, we have analyzed data collected by the MEDA (Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer) sensor suite aboard the Perseverance rover. Using Python-based tools, we tailor code to visualize the meteorological data (e.g, pressure and temperature) to find dips in pressure that may correspond to the passage of dust devils near the rover. Our preliminary results confirm that these vortices are a common occurrence on Mars. Dust devils are believed to be one of the foremost driving factors in the distribution of dust in the Martian atmosphere. By investigating these phenomena, we are advancing understanding of the Martian climate, which will allow for greater planning and risk assessment for future exploration of the Martian surface. For this presentation, we will summarize our team’s progress and discuss future work.