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[neo1096]

I have a question about the dust, does it affect the efficiency of the radios at all or is that not an issue?

n9103 has it right, by my "Rule of Cool" scientific understanding.  When the air is filled with a whirling cloud of iron filings, you expect radio waves to suffer.  Among other things for that matter.

Actually the wavelength of the radio waves one generally uses is too large to be interfered with by a dust storm. If the dust were to clog/cake on a receiver you might find a problem but other than tat radios shouldn't be at all affected by a dust storm and spirit and opportunity rovers also sent radio messages to NASA even in the middle of Martian dust storms.

[Sean Mirrsen]

You're talking about direct radio transmissions by a specifically designed piece of hardware. In this sense, Trippy is not going to be affected - he's sitting in that piece of hardware. Everyone else has weak radios that are going to be very much affected by the iron-rich storm. They're not going to be completely inactive or anything, but their range and transmit/receive quality will suffer greatly.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Sean has been working defiantly on his new little toy, but as time passes he is more and more curious of the happenings outside. Finally he decides that a little rest cannot hurt, and if anything, it would be better to spend some time communicating before a dust storm hits. He makes a final check on his construction, ensuring that he does not forget any pieces, and goes back to the radio and the rovers.

For some time, he assists the people outside with navigation, if it is at all possible, or needed. When he notices the oncoming wall of dust again however, another thought crosses his mind - "Aren't these rovers supposed to have instruments for this sort of thing?". He attempts to use the computer to activate the scientific equipment on one of the drones. Even if he can't make sense of most of the data it gives him, perhaps someone on the radio can?

<ooc>So generally I use half of the time to help people outside with navigation if they need it, and get updated on the state of things with other surviving people. The other half I use to activate the weather monitoring equipment on one of the outside drones, and make sense of the received data, either by myself or with the help of anyone else who may be competent in that and who I can reach by radio.</ooc>

[neo1096]

Actually, no I am not. The only way that dust storms affect radio in any way is via static charge. Due to the lack of a sufficiently insulating atmosphere on Mars this charge build-up doesn't happen, and the static discharges into the iron oxide particles in the storm. The transmissions are if anything clearer on Mars even in this situation because it lacks a magnetic field and is free of the vast amounts of radio interference present on Earth.

[Sean Mirrsen]

You sure it's static charge and not, say, magnetic fields induced in iron oxide particles being close to transmitters? I know the particles of dust are small, but you're effectively facing an iron cloud. The sheer static produced by the dust hitting the antennae is going to render portable radios pathetic.

And even if it wouldn't work that way in real life (I won't concede until Mythbusters make an episode on that ), at least in this game it should. Just for the hell of it.

[Duke 2.0]

 I'm going to be gone for the weekend, so... this is quick, Harry continues to ferry people around and help out in the Auger. Not much else.

[sonerohi]

Oh, thank you a bunch Pandarsenic.

I will indeed take a crisp or two, and I fancy that we might discuss how best to improve our situation with what supplies we have, my ideas tending to be more of setting up a small base here and attempting to lure everyone else to it.

[Sir_Geo]

I try and see if anyone is interested in taking over on the radio once the necessary supplies are moved around. If I still have time I'll take a quick nap!

[qwertyuiopas]

I'll move with the group, helping out and generally getting somewhere secure before the storm

[Sean Mirrsen]

Continuing the earlier scientific theme, I kinda figured that it wouldn't actually be THAT cold on Mars. Unless the effective air temperature is down in the minus hundreds, at that pathetic pressure the density of air isn't going to be enough for quick temperature exchange. It's like comparing water and air at the same temperature. 0^oC water is going to kill you in minutes. Air at the same temperature (even with wind) - not so much. On Mars, you're still going to lose something like a degree of your body temperature every minute if you're naked, but an insulated suit would reduce that to the point where stepping out of a barely warm compartment would be no worse than jumping into cool water on a hot day.

[Aqizzar]

Actually, no I am not. The only way that dust storms affect radio in any way is via static charge. Due to the lack of a sufficiently insulating atmosphere on Mars this charge build-up doesn't happen, and the static discharges into the iron oxide particles in the storm. The transmissions are if anything clearer on Mars even in this situation because it lacks a magnetic field and is free of the vast amounts of radio interference present on Earth.

I suppose it doesn't make perfect scientific sense for a dust storm to cause a lot of interference, but once again, I haven't been playing by strict scientific reality.  More like scientific plausibility.  Besides, at the distance everyone is from each other it wouldn't matter much if all the iron did cause problems.

Continuing the earlier scientific theme, I kinda figured that it wouldn't actually be THAT cold on Mars. Unless the effective air temperature is down in the minus hundreds, at that pathetic pressure the density of air isn't going to be enough for quick temperature exchange. It's like comparing water and air at the same temperature. 0^oC water is going to kill you in minutes. Air at the same temperature (even with wind) - not so much. On Mars, you're still going to lose something like a degree of your body temperature every minute if you're naked, but an insulated suit would reduce that to the point where stepping out of a barely warm compartment would be no worse than jumping into cool water on a hot day.

Oh come on man, don't take the freezing temperatures away from me.  It's not like there aren't other dangers to going outside unprotected.  Surely near-vacuum isn't good for the skin.  Moisture loss maybe?  Not to mention the radiation.

[Sean Mirrsen]

You can always handwave it. With stuff like moisture in the air.   ..yeah right.

[Navian]

Low pressure and high body temperature: Terrible, terrible circulatory problems! Might be okay for a little while during the Martian night, with a pressurized face mask, but even then, low blood pressure and the formation of bubbles in the bloodstream are going to suck, and there's sitll plenty of cosmic radiation... So, yeah.

Moisture loss is more of a problem because of the heat loss that comes with it, from the state change of the water. That has to be accounted for, too. Booooo 9thgradescienceclass.

[Aqizzar]

My point is, it's supposed to be deadly going outside.  You're on fucking Mars.  If man were meant to walk around on other planets, the good Lord would have put you there in the first place.

Seriously though, it's supposed to be dangerous going outside.  Consider it a game mechanic if you have to.

[Sean Mirrsen]

As if suffocation alone isn't enough. But we're okay with that. Remember this discussion and use it to introduce a plot twist explaining the effect later on.

[Aqizzar]

As if suffocation alone isn't enough. But we're okay with that. Remember this discussion and use it to introduce a plot twist explaining the effect later on.

As Kallev might painfully find out, I've already started...