Constraints on the Origin of the Martian Dichotomy From Southern Highlands Marsquakes
Abstract The Martian hemispheric dichotomy is delineated by significant differences in elevation and crustal thickness between the Northern Lowlands and Southern Highlands. Yet, its origin remains controversial. Here, we improve the signal‐to‐noise ratios and determine the locations of the low‐frequ...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL110921 |
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| author | Weijia Sun Hrvoje Tkalčić |
| author_facet | Weijia Sun Hrvoje Tkalčić |
| author_sort | Weijia Sun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The Martian hemispheric dichotomy is delineated by significant differences in elevation and crustal thickness between the Northern Lowlands and Southern Highlands. Yet, its origin remains controversial. Here, we improve the signal‐to‐noise ratios and determine the locations of the low‐frequency marsquakes recorded during the InSight mission. We find a new cluster of marsquakes in Terra Cimmeria, Southern Highlands, in addition to those previously located in Cerberus Fossae, Northern Lowlands. Using the spectral ratio method, we estimate the quality factor Q in the range 481–543 for Terra Cimmeria versus 800–2,000 determined for Cerberus Fossae. The attenuation difference might be linked to the temperature differences between the two hemispheres, along with more vigorous convection beneath the Southern Highlands. These seismological observations, together with geochronological constraints of giant impacts, reinforce the “endogenic” hypothesis that mantle convection causes the crustal dichotomy. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fb0b5bcc3ac8432ab8557f0e34b9143a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-fb0b5bcc3ac8432ab8557f0e34b9143a2025-01-20T13:05:57ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-01-01521n/an/a10.1029/2024GL110921Constraints on the Origin of the Martian Dichotomy From Southern Highlands MarsquakesWeijia Sun0Hrvoje Tkalčić1Key Laboratory of Earth and Planetary Physics Institute of Geology and Geophysics Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing ChinaResearch School of Earth Sciences The Australian National University Canberra ACT AustraliaAbstract The Martian hemispheric dichotomy is delineated by significant differences in elevation and crustal thickness between the Northern Lowlands and Southern Highlands. Yet, its origin remains controversial. Here, we improve the signal‐to‐noise ratios and determine the locations of the low‐frequency marsquakes recorded during the InSight mission. We find a new cluster of marsquakes in Terra Cimmeria, Southern Highlands, in addition to those previously located in Cerberus Fossae, Northern Lowlands. Using the spectral ratio method, we estimate the quality factor Q in the range 481–543 for Terra Cimmeria versus 800–2,000 determined for Cerberus Fossae. The attenuation difference might be linked to the temperature differences between the two hemispheres, along with more vigorous convection beneath the Southern Highlands. These seismological observations, together with geochronological constraints of giant impacts, reinforce the “endogenic” hypothesis that mantle convection causes the crustal dichotomy.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL110921marsdichotomymarsquakeattenuationmantle convectiontectonics |
| spellingShingle | Weijia Sun Hrvoje Tkalčić Constraints on the Origin of the Martian Dichotomy From Southern Highlands Marsquakes Geophysical Research Letters mars dichotomy marsquake attenuation mantle convection tectonics |
| title | Constraints on the Origin of the Martian Dichotomy From Southern Highlands Marsquakes |
| title_full | Constraints on the Origin of the Martian Dichotomy From Southern Highlands Marsquakes |
| title_fullStr | Constraints on the Origin of the Martian Dichotomy From Southern Highlands Marsquakes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Constraints on the Origin of the Martian Dichotomy From Southern Highlands Marsquakes |
| title_short | Constraints on the Origin of the Martian Dichotomy From Southern Highlands Marsquakes |
| title_sort | constraints on the origin of the martian dichotomy from southern highlands marsquakes |
| topic | mars dichotomy marsquake attenuation mantle convection tectonics |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL110921 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT weijiasun constraintsontheoriginofthemartiandichotomyfromsouthernhighlandsmarsquakes AT hrvojetkalcic constraintsontheoriginofthemartiandichotomyfromsouthernhighlandsmarsquakes |