Revised lunar heat-flow values.
Abstract
The 3.5- and 2-year subsurface temperature histories at the Apollo 15 and 17 heat-flow sites have been analyzed, and the results yield significantly lower thermal conductivity determinations than the results of previous short-term experiments. The thermal conductivity determined by probes at a depth of about 150 cm and 250 cm lies in the range 0.9-1.3 times 10 to the -4th W/cm K. On the basis of measurements of variations of surface thorium abundance and inferred crustal thicknesses, the average global heat flux is estimated to be about 1.8 microwatts/sq cm. This requires a uranium concentration of 46 ppb.
- Publication:
-
Lunar and Planetary Science Conference Proceedings
- Pub Date:
- April 1976
- Bibcode:
- 1976LPSC....7.3143L
- Keywords:
-
- Heat Flux;
- Lunar Temperature;
- Thermal Conductivity;
- Apollo Flights;
- Lunar Surface;
- Selenology;
- Surface Temperature;
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration