The observation of episodic dust storms in Martian Year 37, by the EXI camera of the Emirates Mars Mission

The Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) started its science phase in Martian Year 36, solar longitude 49 (May 2021) [1,2]. EMM observes the Mars atmosphere and surface. These observations are unique because of the high-altitude orbit of EMM. The EMM spacecraft has the camera EXI (Emirates Exploration Imager). The EXI camera observes various dust storms on Mars [3]. The result are (sub-)hourly image sequences of dust storms. That is the basis for exploring episodic dust storms. That includes episodic dust storms in Martin Year 36 [4,5]. This conference contribution is follow-on study. The focus are episodic dust storms in Martian Year 37.

We present recent EMM observations of dust storms in Martian Year 37. We select episodic dust storms for detailed study. That includes the formation and evolution of dust storms. Also, we present related study of dust storm dynamics. We explore dust storm characteristics, such as winds, surface dust lifting, and large-scale meteorology.

Acknowledgments: Funding for the development of the Emirates Mars Mission (EMM) mission was provided by the UAE government. CG, BKG, NG, RMBY, and MJW would like to acknowledge EMM science management by the UAE Space Agency. CG, BKG, NG, and RMBY were supported by the UAE University (UAEU). They would like to acknowledge the Department of Physics and the Planetary Science Team of the National Space Science and Technology Center (NSSTC) in the UAEU.

References: [1] Almatroushi, H., et al. (2021). Space Science Reviews, 217(8), 1-31. [2] Amiri, H. E. S., et al. (2022). Space Science Reviews, 218, 4 (2022). [3] Guha, B. K., et al. (2024). Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 129(4), e2023JE008156. [4] Gebhardt, C., et al. (2022). Geophysical Research Letters. 49, e2022GL099528. [5] Gebhardt, C., et al. (2023). Geophysical Research Letters, 50(24), e2023GL105317.