Hubble Sees A Perfect Dust Storm on Mars

Martian dust storms not only cloud the Red Planet’s air, they also warm its atmosphere. The temperature of Mars’ upper atmosphere soared 80 degrees Fahrenheit during the storm — a result of sunlight heating airborne dust grains. In a curious twist, the onset of global warming in the thin atmosphere marked the beginning of a cool period on the planet’s surface, which has chilled under the near-constant shroud of dust.