Rare Plume on Mars: A Mystery Baffling Scientists

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In summary, amateur astronomers observed a huge plume on Mars in 2012 that rose to more than 250 km. Scientists are still trying to figure out what the plume is.
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Dotini
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In the spring of 2012 amateur astronomers spotted a huge plume rising from the Marian surface and captured it on video. They’ve been seen in the past rising to an altitude of 100km, but this one rose to more than 250 km. A reflective cloud of water-ice? An auroral emission of some kind? Or could it be due to an impact?

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Mystery_Mars_plume_baffles_scientists

MYSTERY MARS PLUME BAFFLES SCIENTISTS
Mystery_plume_on_Mars_medium.gif

Mystery plume on Mars
16 February 2015

Plumes seen reaching high above the surface of Mars are causing a stir among scientists studying the atmosphere on the Red Planet.

On two separate occasions in March and April 2012, amateur astronomers reported definite plume-like features developing on the planet.

The plumes were seen rising to altitudes of over 250 km above the same region of Mars on both occasions. By comparison, similar features seen in the past have not exceeded 100 km.

“At about 250 km, the division between the atmosphere and outer space is very thin, so the reported plumes are extremely unexpected,” says Agustin Sanchez-Lavega of the Universidad del País Vasco in Spain, lead author of the paper reporting the results in the journal Nature.

High-altitude_plume_on_Mars_medium.jpg
 
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cool ... wasn't aware of those ... thanks :)Dave
 
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Neat. Would like to see the followup when they get sat photos of the area.
 
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Maybe highly energetic auroral activity on Mars is less rare than thought, though still quite puzzling. This Martian aurora is said to be many times brighter than Earthly aurorae. In 2001, Mars was entirely engulfed in a thick dust storm.

http://www.nature.com/articles/nature14162.epdf?referrer_access_token=QYGOQY2nWe7OxhG_I7gwcNRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0PQU3zoghsPsRCu5hOdcH3Cxsj-l2UK7SQYJdUGZ1oqB-bVZpfiulpYIqz-iG65sCobwq0WEGP07uZ1c2pSrPfS0MN9_a-2ktKU2QirDdPCmgsLkLtoJF9l8n8rtvNd4DudcrXsRBfHjbTPgegJyfxnKKv3FfBNjfvxfgHDJDGUfQ==&tracking_referrer=www.nature.com

http://www.nasa.gov/press/2015/marc...sterious-dust-cloud-around-mars/#.VQwHlUt-_8s

ultraviolet%20aurora%20on%20mars%20dec2014%20by%20maven.jpg


A map of IUVS’s auroral detections in December 2014 overlaid on Mars’ surface. The map shows that the aurora was widespread in the northern hemisphere, not tied to any geographic location. The aurora was detected in all observations during a 5-day period. Image credit: University of Colorado.
 
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1. What is the rare plume on Mars?

The rare plume on Mars refers to a strange cloud-like formation that was observed on the surface of Mars by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) in 2012. It is a mysterious phenomenon that has baffled scientists and has yet to be fully explained.

2. How was the rare plume discovered?

The rare plume on Mars was first discovered by the MRO's High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera. The camera captured images of a bright, elongated cloud-like feature above the surface of Mars. This feature was not present in previous images, leading scientists to believe it was a rare occurrence.

3. What could be causing the rare plume on Mars?

Scientists have put forward several theories to explain the rare plume on Mars, but none have been confirmed. Some theories suggest that it could be a dust cloud or a water vapor cloud caused by an underground source of water on Mars. Others speculate that it could be a volcanic plume or even a glitch in the camera's imaging system.

4. Is the rare plume a sign of life on Mars?

At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that the rare plume on Mars is a sign of life. Theories about the plume being caused by an underground water source do not necessarily indicate the presence of life. However, the discovery of the plume does raise questions about the potential for microbial life on Mars and the possibility of habitable environments.

5. Will scientists continue to study the rare plume on Mars?

Yes, scientists are continuing to study the rare plume on Mars in order to better understand its origin and nature. The MRO is still orbiting Mars and capturing images, and other missions, such as NASA's upcoming Mars 2020 rover, may provide more data on the phenomenon. With further research and analysis, scientists hope to unravel the mystery of the rare plume on Mars.

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