NEW YORK, BRONX (ORDO News) — A recent study led by planetary physicist Benjamin Fernando of the University of Oxford has made a surprising discovery about Mars. On May 4, 2022, NASA‘s InSight probe detected a powerful earthquake of magnitude 4.7 on the red planet.
The quake was originally thought to have been caused by a giant meteorite, but research has now shown that it was caused by colossal tectonic activity in the Martian crust.
This is a surprising discovery because Mars was not thought to have plate tectonics. Fernando explains that this event most likely occurred as a result of the release of stress in the Martian crust caused by billions of years of evolution and differential rates of cooling and contraction.
InSight spent four years on Mars observing the planet’s interior before shutting down at the end of 2022. During its operation, the device recorded hundreds of earthquakes and tremors, some of which were caused by meteorite impacts.
Other earthquakes have been associated with magmatic activity, indicating that Mars may not be as geologically inactive as previously thought.
The main objective of the study was to determine the origin of the largest earthquake recorded by InSight and called S1222a. The seismic data was initially similar to data from previously identified impact events, prompting researchers to coordinate an international effort involving space agencies from around the world.
Satellites from the European Space Agency, the Chinese National Space Agency, the Indian Space Research Organization and the United Arab Emirates Space Agency were used to search for a fresh impact scar large enough to produce S1222a.
However, no such scar was found, leading the researchers to conclude that the most likely explanation for the earthquake was tectonic movement.
This discovery suggests that Mars is much more seismically active than previously thought.
Unfortunately, InSight is no longer available to further study this phenomenon. However, the data he has already collected will provide scientists with valuable material for future research.
Fernando emphasizes the importance of understanding the stress distribution on Mars, as this information can help identify suitable locations for human habitation on the planet.
The results of this pioneering research are published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.
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News agencies contributed to this report, edited and published by ORDO News editors.
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