Spiders Can Float Like Balloons
WouterSpiders can float like balloons, but it isn’t clear how. They can move hundreds of kilometers over relatively short distances.
There are two main explanations for their ability to float. They both involve forces on the silk threads. The first involves a weak vertical electric field in the atmosphere. The second is an explanation based on atmospheric instability.
Researchers have observed several species of spiders ballooning, including mouse spiders and web builders. However, the phenomenon is difficult to study.
Researchers from Trinity College Dublin have studied the phenomenon. They have been able to replicate the process using dry ice, which is commonly used to simulate Martian air. The atmosphere on Mars is largely made up of carbon dioxide.
In their study, they had the opportunity to observe spiders taking off, dropping, and performing tiptoeing movements before ballooning. Their experiments also revealed that some spiders soared along a steep path.
Researchers also examined the effects of temperature and wind speed on ballooning behavior. They found that ballooning can occur at a range of temperatures. In their experiment, the mean wind speed was about seven meters per second, while the laboratory temperature was about nine degrees Celsius.
In the natural environment, ballooning is usually triggered by a sudden rise in ambient temperature. The increased thermal gradient in the atmosphere can cause the air current to move faster. It also allows the ballooner to remain in the air for a longer period of time.
