Global coupling mechanism of Sun resonant forcing of Mars, Moon, and Earth seismicity

TL;DR

This paper reveals that seismic activity on Earth, Moon, and Mars is primarily driven by the solar wind's Rieger resonance, linking planetary seismicity to solar and heliophysical dynamics, and introduces a new spectral analysis method.

Contribution

It demonstrates the global coupling mechanism of solar wind resonance with planetary seismicity and introduces Gauss-Vanicek Spectral Analysis for nonlinear global dynamics computation.

Findings

Seismicity on Mars, Moon, and Earth shows Rieger periodicity linked to solar wind.

Moonquakes and large earthquakes recur at Rieger periods with high confidence.

Solar-wind resonance influences planetary seismic activity beyond tidal effects.

Abstract

Global seismicity on all three solar system's bodies with in situ measurements (Earth, Moon, and Mars) is due mainly to mechanical Rieger resonance (RR) of the solar wind's macroscopic flapping, driven by the well-known PRg=~154-day Rieger period and detected commonly in most heliophysical data types and the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). Thus, InSight mission marsquakes rates are periodic with PRg as characterized by a very high (>>12) fidelity {\Phi}=2.8 10^6 and by being the only >99%-significant spectral peak in the 385.8-64.3-nHz (1-180-day) band of highest planetary energies; the longest-span (v.9) release of raw data revealed the entire RR, excluding a tectonically active Mars. For check, I analyze rates of Oct 2015-Feb 2019, Mw5.6+ earthquakes, and all (1969-1977) Apollo mission moonquakes. To decouple magnetosphere and IMF effects, I study Earth and Moon seismicity during traversals of Earth magnetotail vs. IMF. The analysis showed with >99-67% confidence and {\Phi}>>12 fidelity that (an unspecified majority of) moonquakes and Mw5.6+ earthquakes also recur at Rieger periods. About half of spectral peaks split but also into clusters that average to usual Rieger periodicities, where magnetotail reconnecting clears the signal. Moonquakes are mostly forced at times of solar-wind resonance and not just during tides, as previously and simplistically believed. Earlier claims that solar plasma dynamics could be seismogenic are confirmed. This result calls for reinterpreting the seismicity phenomenon and for reliance on global magnitude scales. Predictability of solar-wind macroscopic dynamics is now within reach, which paves the way for long-term physics-based seismic and space weather prediction and the safety of space missions. Gauss-Vanicek Spectral Analysis revolutionizes geophysics by computing nonlinear global dynamics directly (renders approximating of dynamics obsolete).