Martian Dust Devils and Capt. Cooke's Turtle

The pressure at the bottom of our atmosphere is about 1000 millibars. On Mars the pressure at the surface is about 10 millibars. Almost a vacuum to us..but enough to support wind and even some clouds on the red planet.

The sandy soil and the very strong temp. gradient makes Mars a perfect place for dust devils. Scientists have been hoping to catch some. Not really an easy task though if you think about it. Even if the camera takes 250 pictures a day..The odds of capturing a dust devil within range of the camera is low. They do not last long.

Well here they are! Thanks to the Mars Rover. Pretty neat eh???

Now to some history...Turtles..giant turtles, they live a long time. Too bad they cannot talk or write. If they could, we would have some still living witnesses to some long lost history.

Case in point. On October 21st 1773 the famous British explorer Captain James Cook had dinner with the King of the Tongans. He presented the King with a giant tortoise hauled on board his ship in the vast south sea. The King was much impressed with his gift and when the King died it was passed on to his son, the new King.

This tradition continued with the turtle out living many a ruler. Eventually the 20th century came and the world of the 1770's was but a historical memory pressed between the pages of dry history books.

Cooke's turtle however, was still plodding the grounds of the now fenced in palace of the King of Tonga. Giving rides to visiting school children according to one book I read.
The turtle finally passed away in London in 1966!

Ok so what does this have to with weather.
Nothing, but history is anything but dry.

Later,
Dan