Climate of Mars

Mars is much colder than Earth because it is much farther from the Sun, because the atmosphere is much thinner and therefore retains little heat, and because the Martian soil is a poor conductor of heat. The thin atmosphere and the low thermal conductivity of the soil means that the difference between day and night temperatures is more pronounced than on Earth.

The surface temperature of Mars is about 218 K (-55 º C), but it varies according to the latitude and the season. Temperature in the daytime can reach 20 º C or more and drop to -80 º C. Temperature at the polar caps, winter temperatures can reach below -130 º C.

Huge dust storms, which arise suddenly and can persist for weeks or months, sometimes darken the entire planet. These dust storms are caused by winds of over 150 km.

The atmospheric pressure varies over the year. Carbon dioxide exists in frozen form at the poles in winter and as a gas in the atmosphere in summer.

Scientists still have much to learn about how the climate of Mars developed.