Surface waves and crustal structure on Mars

• DOI: 10.1126/science.abq7157
• Publication Date: 2022-10-27T17:58:44Z
• Authors: D. Kim; W. B. Banerdt; S. Ceylan; D. Giardini; V. Lekić; P. Lognonné; C. Beghein; É. Beucler; S. Carrasco; C. Charalambous; J. Clinton; M. Drilleau; C. Durán; M. Golombek; R. Joshi; A. Khan; B. Knapmeyer-Endrun; J. Li; R. Maguire; W. T. Pike; H. Samuel; M. Schimmel; N. C. Schmerr; S. C. Stähler; E. Stutzmann; M. Wieczorek; Z. Xu; A. Batov; E. Bozdag; N. Dahmen; P. Davis; T. Gudkova; A. Horleston; Q. Huang; T. Kawamura; S. D. King; S. M. McLennan; F. Nimmo; M. Plasman; A. C. Plesa; I. E. Stepanova; E. Weidner; G. Zenhäusern; I. J. Daubar; B. Fernando; R. F. Garcia; L. V. Posiolova; M. P. Panning
• Keywords: Layering; Earth crust

We detected surface waves from two meteorite impacts on Mars. By measuring group velocity dispersion along the impact-lander path, we obtained a direct constraint crustal structure away InSight lander. The crust north of equatorial dichotomy had shear wave approximately 3.2 kilometers per second in 5- to 30-kilometer depth range, with little variation. This implies higher density than inferred beneath lander, suggesting either compositional differences or reduced porosity volcanic areas traversed by waves. lower velocities and layering observed landing site down 10-kilometer are not global feature. Structural variations revealed hold implications for models formation thickness martian crust.