An alternate source of lunar surface hydration: Earth wind
Abstract
Evidence of discoveries involved with lunar water (e.g., polar ice and OH-/H2O) have been observed in recent years. The dynamic H2O loss and rehydration cycle over a lunar day indicated solar wind hydrogen should be an important source of lunar surface water. Solar wind is shielded over a period of 3-5 days as the Moon passes through the Earth's magnetosphere, during which a significant loss of hydration is expected from previous works. Here we study lunar hydration inside the magnetosphere using orbital spectral data, which unexpectedly found that the polar surficial OH/H2O abundance remains at the same level when in the solar wind and in the magnetosphere. We suggest that particles from the magnetosphere (Earth wind, naturally different from solar wind) contribute to lunar hydration. From lunar orbital plasma observations, we find the existence of optimal energy ranges, other than 1 keV as previously thought, for surface hydration formation. These optimal energy ranges deduced from space observations may provide strong implications for laboratory experiments simulating lunar hydration processes.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2019
- Bibcode:
- 2019AGUFMSM33F3284W
- Keywords:
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- 2732 Magnetosphere interactions with satellites and rings;
- MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS;
- 6218 Jovian satellites;
- PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS;
- 6250 Moon;
- PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS;
- 6280 Saturnian satellites;
- PLANETARY SCIENCES: SOLAR SYSTEM OBJECTS