One Person, Two Seasons: Scientists Explain Mars' Microclimate

NASA scientists have explained a unique feature of Martian weather: due to the thin atmosphere, a person could simultaneously feel warm 'spring' sunshine and icy 'winter'. Data from the Perseverance and Curiosity rovers confirm that ground and air temperatures differ greatly, creating the effect of two seasons at once.

NASA scientists have explained a unique feature of Martian weather, described by the phrase 'spring underfoot and winter overhead'. Because the atmosphere is extremely thin, with a pressure less than one percent of Earth's, the soil and air on Mars form two independent layers with almost no heat exchange between them. During the day near the equator, sunlit ground can warm to +24 °C, while the air at human height remains below freezing. Rover data confirm this theory: Perseverance in Jezero Crater found that most of the temperature difference is concentrated in the lower 1.45 meters above the ground, with a midday gradient of up to 26 °C per meter of height. Curiosity in Gale Crater recorded a similar pattern. Despite pleasant positive temperatures on the surface, being on Mars without special preparation is impossible due to the lack of pressure and oxygen, radiation, and wind conditions. The experience of previous missions, including the Ingenuity helicopter and the MOXIE instrument, underscores the extremity of the Martian environment.