APOD: SEIS: Listening for Marsquakes (2019 Jun 04)

[APOD Robot]

SEIS: Listening for Marsquakes

Explanation: If you put your ear to Mars, what would you hear? To find out, and to explore the unknown interior of Mars, NASA's Insight Lander deployed SEIS late last year, a sensitive seismometer that can detect marsquakes. In early April, after hearing the wind and motions initiated by the lander itself, SEIS recorded an unprecedented event that matches what was expected for a marsquake. This event can be heard on this YouTube video. Although Mars is not thought to have tectonic plates like the Earth, numerous faults are visible on the Martian surface which likely occurred as the hot interior of Mars cooled -- and continues to cool. Were strong enough marsquakes to occur, SEIS could hear their rumbles reflected from large structures internal to Mars, like a liquid core, if one exists. Pictured last week, SEIS sits quietly on the Martian surface, taking in some Sun while light clouds are visible over the horizon.

<< Previous APOD

This Day in APOD

Next APOD >>

[Boomer12k]

Interesting, it rumbles..
:---[===] *

[orin stepanek]

Makes one tremor!

[neufer]

Makes one tremor!

<<tremor (n.) late 14c., "terror," from Old French tremor "fear, terror, quaking" (13c.), from Latin tremorem (nominative tremor) "a trembling, terror," from tremere (see tremble (v.)). Sense of "an involuntary shaking" first recorded 1610s and probably represents a re-introduction from Latin.>>

<<Deimos (Ancient Greek: Δεῖμος, meaning “dread”) is the god of terror in Greek mythology. He was a son of Ares and Aphrodite, and the twin brother of Phobos; Deimos served to represent the feelings of dread that befell those in the midst of battle, while Phobos personified feelings of fear and panic. Like Phobos, Deimos served as one of Ares’ attendants, and the two of them would often accompany their father as he rode into battle in his chariot, alongside Enyo, goddess of war and bloodshed, and Eris, goddess of strife. Deimos, the smaller of Mars’ two moons, is named after this mythological figure.>>

[TheZuke!]

When I worked with a seismograph crew, we buried our geophones to prevent wind from adding noise to our readings.

[Chris Peterson]

Although Mars is not thought to have tectonic plates like the Earth...

That's very far from certain, and a good many geologists who study Mars consider it quite likely that the planet does have tectonic plates. They're no longer moving, but may well explain the evolution of Mars's lithosphere billions of years ago. The Earth's tectonic plates will eventually freeze in place, as well.

[Ann]

Although Mars is not thought to have tectonic plates like the Earth...

That's very far from certain, and a good many geologists who study Mars consider it quite likely that the planet does have tectonic plates. They're no longer moving, but may well explain the evolution of Mars's lithosphere billions of years ago. The Earth's tectonic plates will eventually freeze in place, as well.

A good thing for us that they haven't done so already. I read some place that when plate tectonics ceases on the Earth, the oceans will relatively soon begin to disappear, too.

Ann

[Case]

I read some place that when plate tectonics ceases on the Earth, the oceans will relatively soon begin to disappear, too.

If you can, please explain that causality.

[Chris Peterson]

Although Mars is not thought to have tectonic plates like the Earth...

That's very far from certain, and a good many geologists who study Mars consider it quite likely that the planet does have tectonic plates. They're no longer moving, but may well explain the evolution of Mars's lithosphere billions of years ago. The Earth's tectonic plates will eventually freeze in place, as well.

A good thing for us that they haven't done so already. I read some place that when plate tectonics ceases on the Earth, the oceans will relatively soon begin to disappear, too.

The subduction of silicates and carbonates and hydrates, and the release of compounds from the mantle, both play vital roles in the carbon cycle, the water cycle, the nature of geological weathering, erosion, and reconstruction, and many other things that are likely required for stable, complex life on the planet. The loss of tectonic activity will probably be a key part of the end of biological activity on Earth.

[neufer]

---

... a good many geologists who study Mars consider it quite likely that the planet does have tectonic plates. They're no longer moving, but may well explain the evolution of Mars's lithosphere billions of years ago. The Earth's tectonic plates will eventually freeze in place, as well.

The subduction of silicates and carbonates and hydrates, and the release of compounds from the mantle, both play vital roles in the carbon cycle, the water cycle, the nature of geological weathering, erosion, and reconstruction, and many other things that are likely required for stable, complex life on the planet. The loss of tectonic activity will probably be a key part of the end of biological activity on Earth.

[MarkBour]

Although Mars is not thought to have tectonic plates like the Earth...

That's very far from certain, and a good many geologists who study Mars consider it quite likely that the planet does have tectonic plates. They're no longer moving, but may well explain the evolution of Mars's lithosphere billions of years ago. The Earth's tectonic plates will eventually freeze in place, as well.

Interesting information. I perceive that it's an exciting scientific endeavor to investigate whether Mars previously had vast crustal plates that moved relative to each other, interacted and collided, etc. It will help us understand Mars' history, and perhaps Earth's future.

Chunks of ice and snow frozen together in the Fox River.
(Stock photo from 123RF)

As a question of semantics, though -- if a planet's crust once had moving tectonic plates, but then they freeze in place, are they still tectonic plates?