Unrealistic Mars Dust Storm in 'The Martian': An Analysis and Explanation

The dust storm depicted in ldquo;The Martianrdquo; is arguably one of the film's most glaring inaccuracies. While the moviersquo;s depiction is dramatized for narrative impact, Marsrsquo; thin atmosphere makes such a storm impossible in reality.

The Reality of Mars Atmosphere

On Mars, the atmosphere is far too thin to generate high-speed dust storms comparable to those seen on Earth. Simply put, Marsrsquo; atmosphere is not thick or robust enough to support such a phenomenon. While dust storms do occur on Mars, they are nowhere near as dramatic or devastating as those shown in the film.

Why the Film Took Creative Freedom

The makers of ldquo;The Martianrdquo; aimed to create a visually striking opening scene to grab the audiencersquo;s attention. To achieve this, they used a dramatized dust storm to set the stage for the protagonistrsquo;s isolation and struggle. While the storm in the movie might be unrealistic, it serves a critical narrative purpose in the film.

Scientific Understanding of Mars Dust Storms

According to NASA, dust storms on Mars can indeed produce hurricane-like winds. However, these winds are of limited power due to the planetrsquo;s thin atmosphere. This means that although the wind speeds can reach hurricane levels, the force produced by these high-speed winds is minimal.

Scientific Observations

Studies conducted by NASA have revealed that Mars dust storms can create winds traveling at speeds of about 45 meters per second, which Earthlings might consider hurricane-force or above 33 meters per second. However, at other times, the wind speeds can slow to between 20 and 30 meters per second. These findings were presented by Choi at the joint meeting of the European Planetary Science Congress and the American Astronomical Societyrsquo;s Division for Planetary Sciences.

Characteristics of Mars Dust Storms

These storms typically appear around 3:00 Mars Local Time and range in size from about 30 meters to 250 meters in diameter, stretching upwards between 150 meters and 700 meters in height. Although these dust storms are not globally catastrophic, they do pose significant challenges to any life or equipment on the Martian surface.

Conclusion

While the dust storm in ldquo;The Martianrdquo; is not scientifically accurate, it serves a purpose in enhancing the narrative and dramatic impact of the film. Understanding the real science behind Marsrsquo; atmosphere and weather phenomena can help in distinguishing between dramatic artistic license and factual representation.