Dust devils are natural phenomena caused by intense surface heating, producing rolls of air near the ground that collect dirt and debris. Factors such as soil aridity, wind speed, and temperature contribute to their size. They can be harmful in populated areas, but usually collapse once the warm air dissipates. Martian dust devils have been recorded on Mars and can span over two miles in height.
A dust devil is a natural phenomenon that occurs primarily in areas that have intense surface heating, which produces rolls of air near the ground. The ascending vortex that collects dirt, debris, and other particles is called a dust devil. There are several factors that contribute to the size of the vortex, including soil aridity, wind speed, and soil temperature. Due to the dust and debris, these swirls are highly visible and can occasionally be dangerous. Many areas, such as desert lands, are more prone to experiencing a heck of dust than places with cooler climates.
Formation begins as ground temperatures rise, usually during calm winds and clear skies. The warm surface air moves upward through the cooler air and the rotation gradually begins to spin faster and faster, forming the dust devil. Introducing hot air into the vortex increases the speed of rotation and the size of the vortex. As speed increases, the suction of debris and dust increases making the vortex extremely visible.
The size, speed, and time frame of a dust devil vary greatly. The average diameter can range from 10 feet to 300 feet (3.04 m-91.44 m), and the height usually averages 400 feet to 1000 feet (121.92 m-304.8 m). Dust devil durations usually do not exceed a few minutes, but some extremely hot and dry climates experience larger eddies that can last up to an hour. Extreme speeds could reach 60 miles per hour (96.5 km/h), which would translate into heights of up to 3,000 feet (914.44 m).
While most dust vortices form in large open spaces, they can be harmful in more populated areas. They are not as intense as tornadoes, but still cause damage to buildings and other structures. Most of the damage is done by the vortex’s ability to move along the ground, but the dust devil collapses once the warm air dissipates.
Mount St. Helens Volcano erupted in 1980 and the amount of volcanic ash made hundreds of sand devils visible. The volcanic ash lingered on thousands of square feet of land for at least a year, and these eddies could be observed every day. These tornado-like dust funnels have also been recorded on the planet Mars and are usually referred to as Martian dust devils, which have red sands swirling throughout. These Martian whirlwinds can span over two miles (3.2 km) in height and have diameters exceeding 1,000 feet (304.8 m).
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