Possibly seismically triggered avalanches after the S1222a Marsquake and S1000a impact event

Abstract

Ground motion from seismic events detected by the SEIS/InSight seismometer on Mars could potentially trigger dust avalanches. Our research strongly suggests that the seismic event S1000a may have triggered a significant number of dust avalanches. In contrast, following the seismic event S1222a, there was only a modest increase in avalanche occurrences. Orbital observations of the area surrounding the projected location of the S1222a quake reveal notable topographic features, such as North-South ridges and impact craters. We utilize orbital imagery to evaluate the rate of avalanches and explore how the S1222a event might have influenced this rate. The S1222a event appears to be a plausible factor contributing to the observed increase in avalanches. Our further analysis of the epicenter location aims to clarify how it aligns with the avalanches’ spatial distribution, offering insights into the regional topography.