How does the cyclical behavior of dust storms dictate planning for surface missions relying on solar energy?

Periods of high dust opacity severely limit power generation, contrasting with natural "clear windows."

The periodic nature of Martian dust activity directly influences mission planning, particularly for surface assets that depend on solar energy capture. When massive dust storms occur, the atmospheric dust opacity rises dramatically, resulting in a severe limitation or outright stoppage of power generation for solar arrays. Consequently, mission engineers must schedule critical, high-energy activities during natural 'clear windows'—periods following storm dissipation when the dust has settled, allowing sunlight to reach the surface with minimal atmospheric interference. This cyclical variability mandates careful power management and scheduling around visibility constraints.