A tectonic origin for the largest Marsquake observed by InSight
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The S1222a marsquake detected by InSight on 4 May 2022 was the largest of the mission, at Mw^Ma
4.7. Given its resemblance to two other large seismic events (S1000a and S1094b), which were associated
with the formation of fresh craters, we undertook a search for a fresh crater associated with S1222a. Such a
crater would be expected to be ∼300 m in diameter and have a blast zone on the order of 180 km across. Orbital
images were targeted and searched as part of an international, multi-mission effort. Comprehensive analysis of
the area using low- and medium-resolution images reveals no relevant transient atmospheric phenomena and
no fresh blast zone. High-resolution coverage of the epicentral area from most spacecraft are more limited, but
no fresh crater or other evidence of a new impact have been identified in those images either. We thus conclude
that the S1222a event was highly likely of tectonic origin.
4.7. Given its resemblance to two other large seismic events (S1000a and S1094b), which were associated
with the formation of fresh craters, we undertook a search for a fresh crater associated with S1222a. Such a
crater would be expected to be ∼300 m in diameter and have a blast zone on the order of 180 km across. Orbital
images were targeted and searched as part of an international, multi-mission effort. Comprehensive analysis of
the area using low- and medium-resolution images reveals no relevant transient atmospheric phenomena and
no fresh blast zone. High-resolution coverage of the epicentral area from most spacecraft are more limited, but
no fresh crater or other evidence of a new impact have been identified in those images either. We thus conclude
that the S1222a event was highly likely of tectonic origin.
Date Issued
2023-10-28
Date Acceptance
2023-09-15
Citation
Geophysical Research Letters, 2023, 50 (20)
ISSN
0094-8276
Publisher
Wiley Open Access
Journal / Book Title
Geophysical Research Letters
Volume
50
Issue
20
Copyright Statement
© 2023. The Authors.
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2023gl103619
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
e2023GL103619
Date Publish Online
2023-10-17