Researchers from the University of Bern in Switzerland and Imperial College London confirmed that seismic waves generated by a meteoroid impact in Cerberus Fossae traveled through the Martian mantle rather than along the crust, contradicting earlier theories. The impact was recorded as seismic event S0794a and provided the first direct evidence of a marsquake originating from an impact crater at an intermediate distance.
The impact left a 21.5 m (70.5 feet) crater, located 1 640 km (1 019 miles) from NASA’s InSight lander. The research team identified the impact site using high-resolution orbital imaging, confirming that the crater formed between July 3, 2019, and November 2, 2021.
The event suggests that many previously identified marsquakes may have originated much farther away than initially estimated.
“We used to think the energy detected from the vast majority of seismic events was stuck traveling within the Martian crust,” InSight team member Constantinos Charalambous of Imperial College London said.
“This finding shows a deeper, faster path — call it a seismic highway — through the mantle, allowing quakes to reach more distant regions of the planet.”
The discovery challenges earlier models that suggested high-frequency marsquakes travel only through the planet’s crust. The data indicates that seismic waves propagate through the mantle at higher speeds than previously calculated, leading to revised interpretations of seismic events across Mars.
“We thought Cerberus Fossae produced lots of high-frequency seismic signals associated with internally generated quakes, but this suggests some of the activity does not originate there and could actually be from impacts instead,” Charalambous said.
Seismic propagation through the Martian mantle
Seismic waves on Mars were long assumed to propagate through the crust, moving at slower velocities because of the low-density material. Data from event S0794a indicate that the seismic energy traveled through the denser mantle at a higher velocity than previously estimated. The discovery challenges existing models and suggests that many past marsquake epicenters may be located much farther from the InSight lander than initially thought.
Understanding this unexpected seismic behavior requires reevaluating Mars’ internal structure. The mantle’s denser composition allows seismic waves to travel faster, refuting earlier assumptions that high-frequency marsquakes were restricted to the crust. Future studies will need to revise velocity models and reassess seismic event distributions to improve accuracy in determining planetary activity.
Reassessment of marsquake epicenters
The revised seismic propagation model suggests that many previously identified marsquakes attributed to the Cerberus Fossae region may have originated from more distant locations.
Seismic event S0794a was initially classified as a high-frequency marsquake, presumed to be confined to the crust, but its propagation through the mantle necessitates a reassessment of marsquake epicenter distribution.
The revision has broad implications. If many HF events traveled through the mantle rather than being trapped in the crust, past estimations of seismic activity in specific regions may be inaccurate. Tectonic activity zones on Mars must be reevaluated to reflect a more accurate distribution of marsquake sources. This will enhance future seismic models and predictions of planetary activity.
Implications for seismicity and impact rates
A reassessment of marsquake locations affects estimates of seismicity and meteoroid impact rates. The Cerberus Fossae region, previously considered a major seismic hotspot, may not be as active as once thought. If a number of marsquakes attributed to this region actually originated from more distant sources, then the global distribution of seismic activity must be recalculated.
This also influences impact frequency estimates. If detected impacts were initially misattributed to Cerberus Fossae rather than more dispersed locations, the rate of cratering events must be adjusted.
The ability of Mars’ mantle to conduct seismic waves more efficiently than expected also raises new questions about its composition and thermal structure, prompting further investigation.
High-resolution orbital imaging and surface changes
Researchers analyzed the impact site using multiple imaging instruments including the Mars Color Imager (MARCI) and the High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE). Observations showed a darkening of the surface because of dust displacement, followed by gradual brightening over hundreds of Martian days as atmospheric dust settled.
Ejecta patterns indicated that the meteoroid approached Mars at a low angle leading to an asymmetric debris field. The findings help refine impact models and improve understanding of surface evolution on Mars. Tracking albedo changes over time aids in distinguishing fresh impacts from older features, advancing planetary mapping efforts.
References:
1 New Impacts on Mars: Unraveling Seismic Propagation Paths Through a Cerberus Fossae Impact Detection – Constantinos Charalambous, W. Thomas Pike, Benjamin Fernando, Natalia Wójcicka, et.al., – Geophysical Research Letters – February 3, 2025 – – OPEN ACCESS
2 NASA’s InSight Finds Marsquakes From Meteoroids Go Deeper Than Expected – NASA/JPL – February 3, 2025
Rishika holds a Master’s in International Studies from Stella Maris College, Chennai, India, where she earned a gold medal, and an MCA from the University of Mysore, Karnataka, India. Previously, she served as a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India. During her tenure, she contributed as a Junior Writer for Europe Monitor on the Global Politics website and as an Assistant Editor for The World This Week. Her work has also been published in The Hindu newspaper, showing her expertise in global affairs. Rishika is also a recipient of the Women Empowerment Award at the district level in Haryana, India, in 2022.