Volcanism, or volcanic activity, still plays an active role in shaping the surface of Mars, scientists said after detecting low-frequency tremors in the innermost part of the planet, suggesting a potentially warm source comparable to molten lava. The researchers analyzed a cluster of more than 20 recent earthquakes that originated in the Cerberus Fossae graben system, an area consisting of a series of rifts, or grabens. From the seismic data, they concluded that the low-frequency tremors indicated a potentially warm source that could be explained by current molten lava—magma at this depth—and volcanic activity on Mars.
Specifically, they found that the earthquakes are mostly located in the innermost part of Cerberus Fossae – the name for the creature from Greek mythology known as the ‘hell hound of Hades’ that guards the underworld. When they compared the seismic data with observational images of the same area, they also discovered darker dust deposits not just in the dominant wind direction, but in multiple directions surrounding the Cerebus Fossae mantle unit.
“The darker shade of dust indicates geological evidence of more recent volcanic activity – perhaps within the last 50,000 years – relatively young, geologically speaking,” explained study lead author Simon Staehler. Exploring Earth’s planetary neighbors is no easy task, scientists said. Mars is the only planet besides Earth where scientists have rovers, landers, and now even drones that transmit data.
All other planetary exploration has so far relied on orbital images, according to the study. “InSight’s SEIS is the most sensitive seismometer ever installed on another planet. It gives geophysicists and seismologists the opportunity to work with up-to-date data showing what is happening on Mars today – both on the surface and in its interior,” said Domenico, another co-author of the study Giardini.
Seismic data, along with orbital imagery, provides a greater degree of confidence for scientific conclusions. “Mars, one of our closest terrestrial neighbors, is important for understanding similar geologic processes on Earth. The Red Planet is the only one we know so far that has a core composition of iron, nickel, and sulfur that could once have supported a magnetic field,” he says. studies. Topographic evidence also suggests that Mars once contained vast bodies of water and possibly a denser atmosphere. Even today, scientists have found that frozen water, though perhaps mostly dry ice, still exists on its polar caps, the team said.
“While there is still much more to learn, the evidence for potential magma on Mars is intriguing,” said another researcher on the study, Anna Mittelholz. Looking at images of the vast dry and dusty Martian landscape, it’s hard to imagine that about 3.6 billion years ago, Mars was very much alive, at least in a geophysical sense, the study said. It spewed volcanic debris long enough to give rise to the Tharsis Montes region, the largest volcanic system in our solar system, and Olympus Mons, a volcano nearly three times the height of Mount Everest.
The tremors coming from nearby Cerberus Fossae indicate that Mars is not quite dead yet, scientists said. Here, the weight of the volcanic region falls, creating parallel cracks (or fissures) that separate the Martian crust, similar to the cracks that appear on the top of a cake as it bakes, the study said. “It’s possible that what we’re seeing is the last remnants of this once-active volcanic region, or that the magma is moving east right now to the next eruption site,” Staehler said.
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