Exploratour - The Atmosphere of Mars
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Mars Pathfinder on Mars
This is the first image showing clouds of Mars taken from the surface of Mars. Mars Pathfinder set out to record the same kind of temperature and pressure data which is used to diagnose the weather on Earth. Mars Pathfinder also recorded cloud patterns for study later.
Mars Pathfinder found the weather on Mars to be variable. There were light winds (16-35 km/hr - compare these speeds with those on the Earth), gusting both at night and during the day. Cold morning air was warmed by the surface and convected upward in small eddies. Afternoon temperatures were steady, with no evidence of eddy formation. The early afternoons were plagued by dust devils, which were repeatedly seen. Martian Global Dust Storms are considered to originate from dust devils such as these.
While Mars Pathfinder was there, it never rained.