Seismic detection of a 600-km solid inner core in Mars.

ABSTRACT: For rocky planets, the presence of a solid inner core has notable implications on the composition and thermal evolution of the core and on the magnetic history of the planet^1-3. On Mars, geophysical observations have confirmed that the core is at least partially liquid^4-7, but it is unknown whether any part of the core is solid. Here we present an analysis of seismic data acquired by the InSight mission, demonstrating that Mars has a solid inner core. We identify two seismic phases, the deep core-transiting phase, PKKP, and the inner core boundary reflecting phase, PKiKP, indicative of the inner core. Our inversions constrain the radius of the Martian inner core to about 613 ± 67 km, with a compressional velocity jump of around 30% across the inner core boundary, supp

SUBMITTER: Bi H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12408336 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature