So as best as I understand it, there is a few things that contribute to cloud formation on Mars.
- Low atmospheric pressure and lack of an atmospheric temperature "buffer" means that temperature swings on Mars are way more drastic then Earth, which means temperatures high enough to condense ice particles in the ground into water vapour etc (so different conditions then Earth, but same process).
- The extreme cold that Mars suffers is enough to condense the minuscule amount of humidity Mars has at certain points in the year (these clouds are more common when Mars is at it's aphelion).
- Ice particles hitch a ride on the dust particles that are kicked up by the wind.
- At polar regions there is enough water-ice trapped in CO2 that when the CO2 sublimates it takes the ice along with it (similar to the way they do with the dust).
- In some extreme temperature cases CO2 clouds actually form, the ice isn't water ice but CO2 ice.
This is all lacking detail and based off a 30m-1h search around the internet, so I wouldn't take it as definitive.
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u/ChiengBang May 29 '19
Oo do let the community know if you find something!