Seismic Phase Amplitude decay and Implications for Event detection Rates on Mars

Abstract

<p>The number of seismic events detected by a seismometer during a certain interval of time depends on the sensitivity of the instrument, the level and spatial distribution of seismic activity of the planet, and the internal structure and composition of the planet. The latter controls the focusing/scattering of the seismic waves and their attenuation.</p> <p>We estimate detection rates that can be expected from the ExoMars-Seismometer. We use a Martian seismicity model [1] to estimate the number, size and distribution of marsquakes, and calculate event amplitudes from synthetic seismograms computed using normal mode summation [2] in a standard structure model of Mars [3]. In combination with the expected life times and the known sensitivities of the sensors used in the ExoMars SEIS experiment, we aim to map the expected detection rates for several seismic phases as function of landing site coordinates and to simulate the expected scientific data return from a Seismometer on a given site.</p>