Newly formed craters on Mars located using seismic and acoustic wave data from InSight
File(s)GarciaEtAl_2022_NGeo_Accepted.pdf (8.11 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Meteoroid impacts shape planetary surfaces by forming new craters and alter atmospheric composition. During atmospheric entry and impact on the ground, meteoroids excite transient acoustic and seismic waves. However, new crater formation and the associated impact-induced mechanical waves have yet to be observed jointly beyond Earth. Here we report observations of seismic and acoustic waves from the NASA InSight lander’s seismometer that we link to four meteoroid impact events on Mars observed in spacecraft imagery. We analysed arrival times and polarization of seismic and acoustic waves to estimate impact locations, which were subsequently confirmed by orbital imaging of the associated craters. Crater dimensions and estimates of meteoroid trajectories are consistent with waveform modelling of the recorded seismograms. With identified seismic sources, the seismic waves can be used to constrain the structure of the Martian interior, corroborating previous crustal structure models, and constrain scaling relationships between the distance and amplitude of impact-generated seismic waves on Mars, supporting a link between the seismic moment of impacts and the vertical impactor momentum. Our findings demonstrate the capability of planetary seismology to identify impact-generated seismic sources and constrain both impact processes and planetary interiors.
Date Issued
2022-09-19
Date Acceptance
2022-07-22
Citation
Nature Geoscience, 2022, 15, pp.774-780
ISSN
1752-0894
Publisher
Nature Research
Start Page
774
End Page
780
Journal / Book Title
Nature Geoscience
Volume
15
License URL
Sponsor
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
Identifier
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-022-01014-0
Grant Number
ST/S001514/1
ST/T002026/1
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Geology
METEORITE IMPACTS
ATMOSPHERE
EXPLOSION
MOON
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2022-09-19