Global Thickness and Radioactive Heat Source of Martian Crust Determined
Researchers at ETH Zurich used seismic waves from a Marsquake to determine the global thickness and density of the planet's crust. The Martian crust is much thicker than that of the Earth or the moon, with an average thickness of 42 to 56 kilometers. The study also found that 50% to 70% of the heat-producing elements in Mars are found in the crust, which could explain why there are local regions underneath where melting processes may still be taking place today.