Publication Date:
2017-11-16
Description:
A data product has been generated and archived on the NASA Planetary Data System (Geosciences Node) which presents the seismometer readings of Viking Lander 2 in an easy-to-access form, for both the raw ('High rate') waveform records and the compressed ('Event mode') amplitude and frequency records. In addition to the records themselves, a separate summary file for each instrument mode lists key statistics of each record together with the meteorological measurements made closest in time to the seismic record. This juxtaposition facilitates correlation of the seismometer instrument response to different meteorological conditions, or the selection of seismic data during which wind disturbances can be expected to be small. We summarize data quality issues and also discuss lander-generated seismic signals, due to operation of the sampling arm or other systems, which may be of interest for prospective missions to other bodies. We review wind-seismic correlation, the 'Sol 80' candidate seismic event, and identify the seismic signature of a probable dust devil vortex on Sol 482 : the seismometer data allow an estimate of the peak wind, occurring between coarsely-spaced meteorology measurements. We present code to generate the plots in this paper to illustrate use of the data product.
Electronic ISSN:
2333-5084
Topics:
Geosciences
,
Physics
