Current observation techniques have allowed scientists a tantalising glimpse of dust devils occurring on Mars. Such features can apparently form despite Mars having less than 1% of the atmospheric pressure of Earth and low wind speeds. It therefore strikes me, as a real possibility, that dust-devils and other dust-storm phenomena might occur on the negligible atmosphere planetoids, as depicted in the Elite universe.
Dust-Devils:
Essentially these events might be considered weak tornadoes or the dust zephyrs you see spinning loose debris on a warm summer's day. They might vary greatly in size and diameter but their strength is restricted by the density of the atmosphere they occur in. Their passage might create a localised dust-storm and buffet / rock any SRV vehicle caught in their path. In their wake, a track might be left in the ground.
A dust-devil might be of sufficient strength to disturb local sand deposits and reveal something unexpected that was previously buried...
Dust-Storms:
A dust-storm is an all-enveloping cloud of obscuring dust. It might manifest as a result of day-time / night-time temperature variations, planetary spin or even as the result of radiation effects from parent gas giants. Such events might be hazardous to a lone SRV through several means.
- Loss of vision: obscuring navigation by sight.
- Electromagnetic interference: dust-storms, especially those composed of exotic materials, might generate a sufficient charge to play havoc with SRV instruments.
- Size and Speed: Storms might pass quickly or slowly making communication with a parent ship for extraction, difficult.
- Dune generation: In the most extreme of cases, a dust-storm might alter the landscape of a world significantly. A relatively flat world might suddenly be populated with a sea of dunes.
SRV pilot's would have to show courage and perseverance to weather the worst dust-storm: seeking shelter in hollows, braving heights to raise an emergency antennae to call in their ship.
Self-Created Dust-Storms:
It might be feasibly possible for an SRV to be the seed to create their own dust-storm! Excessive speed and their own electromagnetic presence might be sufficient to raise clouds of dust in their surroundings.
Scientific Significance:
Worlds where unusual dust-storm phenomena occur might have a scientific classification within the Surveyer / Exploration communities and offer an additional reward for their discovery. Missions to recover Geological samples of rare exotic sands might be a staple for scientists visiting such worlds.
Dust-Devils:
Essentially these events might be considered weak tornadoes or the dust zephyrs you see spinning loose debris on a warm summer's day. They might vary greatly in size and diameter but their strength is restricted by the density of the atmosphere they occur in. Their passage might create a localised dust-storm and buffet / rock any SRV vehicle caught in their path. In their wake, a track might be left in the ground.
A dust-devil might be of sufficient strength to disturb local sand deposits and reveal something unexpected that was previously buried...
Dust-Storms:
A dust-storm is an all-enveloping cloud of obscuring dust. It might manifest as a result of day-time / night-time temperature variations, planetary spin or even as the result of radiation effects from parent gas giants. Such events might be hazardous to a lone SRV through several means.
- Loss of vision: obscuring navigation by sight.
- Electromagnetic interference: dust-storms, especially those composed of exotic materials, might generate a sufficient charge to play havoc with SRV instruments.
- Size and Speed: Storms might pass quickly or slowly making communication with a parent ship for extraction, difficult.
- Dune generation: In the most extreme of cases, a dust-storm might alter the landscape of a world significantly. A relatively flat world might suddenly be populated with a sea of dunes.
SRV pilot's would have to show courage and perseverance to weather the worst dust-storm: seeking shelter in hollows, braving heights to raise an emergency antennae to call in their ship.
Self-Created Dust-Storms:
It might be feasibly possible for an SRV to be the seed to create their own dust-storm! Excessive speed and their own electromagnetic presence might be sufficient to raise clouds of dust in their surroundings.
Scientific Significance:
Worlds where unusual dust-storm phenomena occur might have a scientific classification within the Surveyer / Exploration communities and offer an additional reward for their discovery. Missions to recover Geological samples of rare exotic sands might be a staple for scientists visiting such worlds.
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