[BAA-ebulletin 01007] A Regional Martian dust storm

[BAA electronic bulletins service]

Members of the Mars Section received an email alert on June 5 concerning dust storm activity. A minor storm had appeared over SE Mare Acdialium on May 30, and expanded considerably (particularly to the south) over the course of a few days, after which secondary activity along the Valles Marineris caused the event to grow further, making it into a substantial Regional event. The Valles Marineris dust activity expanded to the east to completely mask Margaritifer Sinus, and later Sinus Meridiani too. Dust affected higher southern latitudes, including Argyre. Images taken on Jun 7-10 show an impressive area affected by the storm. Images of the opposite hemisphere, in the longitudes from Mare Sirenum to Syrtis Major do not show dust, except for a slight veiling far north of the latter feature, and it would appear that orographic clouds over the martian volcanoes are still being recorded, so any warming of the atmosphere due to dust has not spread into that region. 

Images of the unaffected longitudes of the planet are distinctly lacking in quantity, and so I hope any members that have images or drawings not yet communicated will send them to me so that the timecourse of the event can be completely followed.

Dr Richard McKim, Director, Mars Section 
2018 June 10