Stratification of Heterogeneity in the Lithosphere of Mars From Envelope Modeling of Event S1222a and Near Impacts: Interpretation and Implications for Very‐High‐Frequency Events

Abstract

Abstract We have modeled the high‐frequency seismogram envelopes of the large event S1222a and four recently identified near impacts recorded by the InSight mission by introducing a stratification of velocity and attenuation into a multiple‐scattering approach. We show that a simple conceptual model composed of a strongly diffusive, weakly attenuating layer overlying a transparent medium captures the essential features of the observed envelopes. The attenuation profiles reveal that the minimal extension of heterogeneities at depth is of the order of 20 km in the vicinity of InSight and 60 km on the path to S1222a. We interpret this result as an indication that the Martian crust as a whole is at the origin of the strong scattering. Our heterogeneity model suggests that the sources of a number of distant Very‐high‐Frequency seismic events are shallow and located to the south or in close vicinity of the Martian dichotomy.

Keywords

• attenuation
• absorption
• scattering
• multiple scattering
• Martian lithosphere
• InSight mission