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.
Date Issued
2023-10-28
Online Publication Date
2024-07-16T09:28:49Z
Date Acceptance
2023-09-15
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