Follow the dust and its shadow
Explore actual Martian whirlwind imagery from orbit and a rover, distinguishing airborne columns, shadows and the tracks left on the surface.
What to keep in mind
The gallery contains different storms and locations. The rover film uses 21 enhanced frames taken four seconds apart at 20× playback; its unseen full height is an estimate.
Watch the rover sequence
Which portion of the vortex stays inside the frame as it crosses Thorofare Ridge? Separate its visible motion from the publisher's accelerated playback.
Column, shadow or track?
In the serpent image, mark the airborne plume, its shadow and the surface trail separately. Why would following the bent plume give a misleading route?
Compare visible and inferred
Compare an orbital column and shadow with the cropped rover view. Which height information is visible, and which requires geometry or a vertical-column assumption?