(ORDO NEWS) — NASA researchers have found evidence that there may be enough wind on Mars to power wind turbines.
In their study, published in the journal Nature Astronomy, the scientists adapted a climate model to mimic conditions on Mars and study the nature and strength of the wind.
Previous research has shown that because Mars’ atmosphere is quite thin, it’s unlikely that wind could be used to power turbines to generate electricity that future colonists could use.
In this new work, the researchers took a closer look at the wind on Mars and its possible use as a power source.
To simulate conditions on Mars, the researchers adapted a climate model originally developed to study the climate on Earth.
They took into account factors such as the amount of solar radiation, dust and heat levels, and geographic topography to model wind conditions at various parts of the planet’s surface.
Once the model was up and running, the researchers used it to model the climate on Mars for several years.
They found that many parts of Mars had strong enough winds to help generate electricity, and that in a few regions the wind was strong enough to serve as the sole source of electricity generation.
Crater rims and volcanic highlands have been found to be the most suitable for wind power generation.
The researchers also found that the winds picked up speed and strength as they blew over ice formations around the poles. In several places, scientists say wind can generate more power than solar panels.
The researchers suggest that their work indicates that large turbines could be built in certain areas to generate large amounts of power – especially in the seasonally icy regions of the northern part of the planet.
They also suggest that such turbines must be made from materials different from those used here on Earth due to weight restrictions.
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