Thermal convection in the Martian atmosphere

Formation of dust clouds observed in the Martian atmosphere can be explained by the action of dust devils larger than 100 meters in diameter. The condition for the onset of thermal convection is the existence of an unstable temperature profile. The daily variation of the atmospheric temperature profile shows that the Martian atmosphere is more favorable for the initiation of dust devils than the earth's atmosphere. The calculations indicate that dust devils on Mars produce wind velocities only slightly lower than those on earth.