Groundbreaking observations reveal electrical phenomena previously thought impossible in Mars’ thin atmosphere
Scientists have made a stunning discovery that challenges our understanding of Martian weather: lightning storms appear to be occurring on the surface of Mars. The findings, published this week in *Nature Geoscience*, represent years of careful observation and data analysis spanning from 2022 to 2025, and mark the first definitive evidence of electrical discharges in the Red Planet’s famously thin atmosphere.
The observations were made possible through a combination of orbital sensors aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) and the European Space Agency’s Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), along with surface-based instruments on NASA’s Perseverance rover. The instruments detected characteristic electromagnetic signatures in the extremely low frequency (ELF) range between 3-30 Hz, consistent with lightning activity. Additional confirmation came from optical flashes captured in the 656.3 nanometer hydrogen-alpha wavelength during nighttime observations.
Unlike Earth’s dramatic thunderbolts that can carry currents of 30,000 amperes, Martian lightning appears to manifest primarily during massive dust storms, when friction between countless particles of airborne sediment generates powerful static electrical charges. The discharges measured on Mars carry estimated peak currents between 5,000 and 10,000 amperes—still formidable, but occurring in bursts lasting only microseconds.
“What we’re seeing fundamentally changes our perception of Mars as a meteorologically dead world,” explains Dr. Elena Rodriguez, lead atmospheric scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. “These electrical discharges aren’t just scientifically fascinating—they have real implications for future human missions and our understanding of the planet’s chemistry.”
The lightning occurs most frequently during Mars’ notorious global dust storms, which can engulf the entire planet for months at a time. The most recent planet-wide dust storm occurred in 2018, though regional storms provided the opportunity for these latest observations during the Martian southern hemisphere spring of 2023 and 2024 (corresponding to Mars Year 36 and 37). During these events, dust particles colliding at high velocity in the thin atmosphere—with surface pressure averaging just 610 pascals compared to Earth’s 101,325 pascals—create triboelectric charging, similar to the static shock you might feel after walking across a carpet.
The research team analyzed over 2,400 hours of electromagnetic data and identified 127 distinct electrical discharge events. Particle size analysis from the MRO’s Mars Climate Sounder instrument revealed that lightning activity correlated strongly with the presence of dust particles in the 1-10 micrometer range at altitudes between 8 and 15 kilometers above the Martian surface.
Previous missions had detected tantalizing hints of electrical activity. The Viking landers in the 1970s reported anomalous electromagnetic readings, and the Russian Mars 96 mission (which unfortunately failed during launch) was designed with specific lightning detection equipment. However, atmospheric conditions on Mars—with air pressure less than one percent of Earth’s and carbon dioxide comprising 95% of the atmosphere—were thought to make sustained lightning nearly impossible. The new observations suggest that dust storm dynamics create localized conditions with electric field strengths exceeding 20 kilovolts per meter, sufficient for electrical breakdown of the Martian air.
“The key breakthrough came from understanding the role of dust grain composition,” notes co-author Dr. James Chen of the University of Colorado. “Martian dust contains significant amounts of iron oxide and perchlorates, which enhance charge separation efficiency by a factor of three compared to terrestrial dust.”
The discovery has significant implications for future exploration. Electrical storms could pose hazards to both robotic and human missions, potentially inducing voltage spikes in excess of 1,000 volts in conductive materials and damaging sensitive electronics or communication systems. NASA’s Artemis-to-Mars planning committee has already begun incorporating lightning protection protocols into habitat design specifications, including Faraday cage shielding and grounding systems adapted for Martian regolith conductivity.
However, the lightning also suggests that Mars’ atmosphere is more dynamic and chemically active than previously believed. Theoretical models indicate that each discharge could produce nitric oxide (NO) at concentrations up to 10 parts per billion in localized regions, potentially contributing to the formation of perchlorates and other oxidized compounds detected in Martian soil by the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers.
Researchers are now working to understand the exact mechanisms behind these Martian electrical storms and how frequently they occur outside of major dust events. Preliminary data suggests that smaller-scale electrical discharges with energies around 10^5 joules might occur during the estimated 50,000 dust devils that form daily across Mars’ surface, though these remain below current detection thresholds.
“The next phase involves deploying dedicated lightning detection arrays as part of the planned Mars Sample Return mission support infrastructure in 2028,” Rodriguez explains. “We need continuous monitoring across multiple Martian years to fully characterize the electrical climate.”
As we prepare for human missions to Mars in the coming decades, understanding these electrical phenomena becomes increasingly critical. The Red Planet, it seems, still has plenty of surprises waiting to be discovered in its rusty skies.