Figure 1. An image from Malin Space Science Systems titled "Mars Orbiter Camera Mars Weather Update for Solar Conjunction 2002." This image shows a massive dust storm probably riding on a cold wave from the north polar region of Mars during the first week in August 2002.

Figure 2. North Polar Dust Storm. Another dust cloud rages over Uchronia-Utipia (Borealis) during March 7, 2003. Image MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-334, 18 April 2003   http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2003/04/18/index.html

Figure 3. Dust Storm in Syria. MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-366, 20 May 2003.  A dust storm rages in Syria Planum, south of the Labyrinthus Noctis troughs (at lower center) in this Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) composite of daily global images taken during the recent southern winter. In this view, water ice clouds are present over each of the five largest Tharsis volcanoes, Olympus Mons (right center), Alba Patera (upper center), Ascraeus Mons (near center), Pavonis Mons (toward lower left), and Arsia Mons (lower left). The summertime north polar residual water ice cap can be seen at the top of this picture. Sunlight illuminates the planet from the left [http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2003/05/20/index.html]

Figure 4. Seven images of the same dust cloud moving around in the Syria-Claritas region near Solis Lacus. 1) Teruaki Kumamori, 21 May 2003 1929 UT CM 94° , 2) Eric Ng, 22 May 2003, 2112 UT CM 110° , 3) M. Valimberti, 24 May 2003, 1711 UT, CM 32° , 4) Tomio Akutsu, 24 May 2003 1815 UT CM 47° , 5) Tan Wei Leong, 24 May 2003 2214 UT CM 106° , 6) Eric Ng, 26 May 2003 2115 UT CM 72° , and 7) Eric Ng, 30 May 2003, 2039 UT CM 24° .

Figure 5. May Dust Storm in Acidalia: MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-374, 28 May 2003, Northern Acidalia Planitia was engulfed in a continent-sized dust storm in mid-May 2003. This composite of Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) daily global images shows the early autumn dust storm (top 1/4 of the picture) sweeping east-northeast (toward upper right) across the northern plains. Dust storms like these are common in early autumn and generally last about a day or two. This simple cylindrical view of Mars covers regions from eastern Kasei Valles/northeast Tempe Terra (in the upper left), to central Arabia Terra (center right), Argyre Basin (lower left), Noachis Terra (lower right), and the northern edge of the retreating south polar seasonal frost cap (bottom). Sunlight illuminates the scene from the left.  http://www.msss.com/mars_images/moc/2003/05/28/index.html

Figure 6. Three recent images of Mars showing what appears to be a dust swirl or cloud in the South Polar Cap (SPC). The yellow-brown anomaly appears to the center-left of the LEFT image (Grafton) and CENTER image (Kumamori) and more to the center in the RIGHT image (Gu Yu). Notice the yellow-brown hollow in the SPC.

Figure 7. A sequence of photographs taken by amateur astronomers of the two dust cloud east of Syrtis Major in Isidis and Libya.

Figure 8. MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-405, 28 June 2003, Autumn on the martian northern plains means clouds and dust storms. As autumn got underway in early May 2003, large dust storms began to form on the northern plains and sweep their way eastward--and sometimes southward--bringing colder air down from the north polar cap, now shrouded in darkness and clouds. This early autumn view, assembled from Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) daily global images, shows an eastward-moving dust storm on the plains north of Cydonia and western Arabia Terra. The storm is nearly as big as the continental United States are wide, from west to east. In this image, north is toward the top, east to the right, and sunlight illuminates the scene from the lower left.

Figure 9. Two dust clouds during June 29, 2003 in Isidis Planita and Libya: MGS MOC Release No. MOC2-414, 7 July 2003. This is the dusty time of year for Mars. The Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) team has been anticipating for months that late June through July 2003 will be a time of large dust storms and considerable haze. As June turned to July, several large dust storms began popping up. Two examples are shown here in this mosaic of MOC daily global images from June 29, 2003. Near the center of this picture is a large dust storm engulfing southern Isidis Planitia. Toward the upper right (northeast) of the Isidis storm is another event in northern Elysium Planitia. This view of a portion of Mars is illuminated by sunlight from the left. This is a simple cylindrical map projection, north is up. The large dark feature just left of center is Syrtis Major; the bright oval toward the bottom left is the giant Hellas impact basin, which is more than 2,000 km (more than 1200 miles) across. The white area at the bottom of the picture is the south polar seasonal frost cap, made up mostly of carbon dioxide. The wispy features at the top of the image are clouds over the martian northern plains.

Figure 10. Mars drawing for 01 July 2003 by J.D. Beish showing what appears to be a dust swirl streak south of Syrtis Major in Pandorae Fretum and Iapygia Mare, and dust cloud in northwest Hellas.

Figure 11. Mars images for 02 July 2003 by DC Parker showing a dust swirl streak south of Syrtis Major in Pandorae Fretum and Iapygia Mare, and dust cloud in northwest Hellas. This appears to be the beginning of a major dust storm.

Figure 12. 1: Dave Moore 28 July 2003 shows dusty cloud streak over Acidalium Mare, Achillis Pons and Niliacus Lacus. 2: Skip Waller shows this same streak on 29 July 2003 apparently stalled out over Achillis Pons. 3: Ed Grafton took this 30 July 2003 image with a bright dust cloud, shaped like a lazy "V" in Chryse and a somewhat clearer Achillis Pons and Niliacus Lacus. 4: Again Ed Grafton imaged the dust cloud apparently spreading southeast into Aram and westward into Eos and Aurorae Sinus- Erythraeum Mare. Dust also appears to be obscuring Nilokeras on the morning limb.

Figure 13. 1: Dave Moore’s 29 July 2003 shows dust cloud in Achillis Fons with dust streak over Achillis Pons and Niliacus Lacus. 2: The dust cloud and streak on Dave Moore’s image on 29 July 2003 nearly an hour and a half later. 3: Dust cloud appears to have expanded into Chryse and Xanthe and spreading southeast over Oxia Pallus and southwest into Eos and Aurorae Sinus- Erythraeum Mare. Dust also appears to be obscuring Nilokeras on the morning limb.

Figure 14. 1: Don Parker captures Chryse dust clouds on 31 July 2003. 2: Clay Sherrod imaged bright cores of dust clouds obscuring Chryse, Eos and Aurorae Sinus on 31 July 2003. 3: The other side of Mars as imaged by M. Valimberti shows dust over Eos and Aurorae Sinus and in Chryse on 31 July 2003. 4: T. Kumamori imaged similar dust activity in Eos and Aurorae Sinus, Chryse-Xanthe on 31 July 2003.

Figure 15. August 01, 2003 Wes Higgins (LEFT) and Thomas Williamson (RIGHT) imaged continuation of dust cloud movement and obscuration in Aram, Chryse-Xanthe, Eos and Aurorae Sinus and obscuring parts of Erythraeum Mare.

Figure 16. August 02, 2003 Skip Waller (LEFT) and Stefan Buda (RIGHT) imaged dust clouds in Eos and Aurorae Sinus as they diminished in size and intensity.

The Martian dusty period began on August 15, 2003 (241° Ls) and ended September 30, 2003 (270° Ls). During that period observers had the highest probability of seeing a dust cloud or maybe a major dust storm by September 6, 2003 (255° Ls) – however, we saw no major disturbances. This can be deceiving because in nature we find that accurate predictions are nearly impossible to make because of the complexities and unknown variables. So, once again the Red Planet cheated statisticians.

On the morning of  01 July 2003 at 0840 – 1000 UT, two observers, Beish and Parker, noticed what appears to be possible dust clouds south of Syrtis Major. Normally dark features from 270° W – 310° W, 15° S - 20° S appears to have changed dramatically since 30 June 2003 and is brighter now in orange (W23A filter) and blue-green (W64 filter) light. Areographic northwest Hellas (305° W, 20° S) brighter with a light spot that was not there on 30 June 2003. Light/bright streak from Pandorae Fretum into Iapygia Mare. Also, Tyrrhenum Mare, Cimmerium Mare lighter than on 30 June 2003 and Hesperia not as well-defined. While Zea Lacus was seen by Beish the "canal" Peneus that connects from Yoanis Fr. to Zea Lacus was gone on 01 July 2003.

Observers should continue to watch for dust storms because there is still a chance of major disturbances no later than mid-December (315° Ls) if Mars' windy season follows a more normal course of behavior. Continuing with the dust activity during the 2005 Apparition or go back to the Sand Ships of Mars.