A new study published in Geophysical Research Letters has used machine learning to identify and associate numerous marsquakes with meteoroid impacts on Mars. The research team, led by Dr. Valentin Bickel from the University of Bern, analyzed satellite images from NASA’s InSight lander and found that many previously unknown meteoroid impacts occurred near the lander during its mission.
The study used a machine learning approach to classify craters formed during seismic monitoring by InSight, resulting in the discovery of 123 new impact events. The researchers compared these events with seismic recordings from InSight and found potential matches between 49 seismic events and one or more possible impact events, indicating that some marsquakes may be caused by meteoroid impacts rather than tectonic activity.
The study’s findings suggest that meteoroid impacts play a significant role in triggering Marsquakes. The estimated impact rate is around 1.6 to 2.5 times higher than previously assumed. This has far-reaching implications for our understanding of the Martian surface dynamics and the frequency of marsquakes.
Furthermore, the researchers compared seismic waves propagating through the Martian mantle with a specific high-frequency marsquake linked to an impact event, revealing that some seismic waves propagated deeper into the mantle than previously thought. These findings challenge previous assumptions about seismic wave propagation and suggest that internal structural models of Mars need to be revised.
The study’s results highlight the importance of combining seismic data with orbital image information for understanding Martian geophysical properties. Further research is needed to refine estimates of marsquake frequency and impact rates, which will be crucial for assessing the risk of structural damage on a potential future human settlement on Mars.
Source: https://phys.org/news/2025-02-machine-reveals-meteoroid-impacts-play.html