The crust of the moon as seen by GRAIL

Mark A. Wieczorek; Gregory A. Neumann; Francis Nimmo; Walter S. Kiefer; G. Jeffrey Taylor; H. Jay Melosh; Roger J. Phillips; Sean C. Solomon; Jeffrey C. Andrews-Hanna; Sami W. Asmar; Alexander S. Konopliv; Frank G. Lemoine; David E. Smith; Michael M. Watkins; James G. Williams; Maria T. Zuber

doi:10.1126/science.1231530

The crust of the moon as seen by GRAIL

Mark A. Wieczorek, Gregory A. Neumann, Francis Nimmo, Walter S. Kiefer, G. Jeffrey Taylor, H. Jay Melosh, Roger J. Phillips, Sean C. Solomon, Jeffrey C. Andrews-Hanna, Sami W. Asmar, Alexander S. Konopliv, Frank G. Lemoine, David E. Smith, Michael M. Watkins, James G. Williams, Maria T. Zuber

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

691 Scopus citations

Abstract

High-resolution gravity data obtained from the dual Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) spacecraft show that the bulk density of the Moon's highlands crust is 2550 kilograms per cubic meter, substantially lower than generally assumed. When combined with remote sensing and sample data, this density implies an average crustal porosity of 12% to depths of at least a few kilometers. Lateral variations in crustal porosity correlate with the largest impact basins, whereas lateral variations in crustal density correlate with crustal composition. The low-bulk crustal density allows construction of a global crustal thickness model that satisfies the Apollo seismic constraints, and with an average crustal thickness between 34 and 43 kilometers, the bulk refractory element composition of the Moon is not required to be enriched with respect to that of Earth.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	671-675
Number of pages	5
Journal	Science
Volume	339
Issue number	6120
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1231530
State	Published - Feb 8 2013
Externally published	Yes

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Wieczorek, M. A., Neumann, G. A., Nimmo, F., Kiefer, W. S., Taylor, G. J., Melosh, H. J., Phillips, R. J., Solomon, S. C., Andrews-Hanna, J. C., Asmar, S. W., Konopliv, A. S., Lemoine, F. G., Smith, D. E., Watkins, M. M., Williams, J. G., & Zuber, M. T. (2013). The crust of the moon as seen by GRAIL. Science, 339(6120), 671-675. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1231530

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title = "The crust of the moon as seen by GRAIL",

abstract = "High-resolution gravity data obtained from the dual Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) spacecraft show that the bulk density of the Moon's highlands crust is 2550 kilograms per cubic meter, substantially lower than generally assumed. When combined with remote sensing and sample data, this density implies an average crustal porosity of 12% to depths of at least a few kilometers. Lateral variations in crustal porosity correlate with the largest impact basins, whereas lateral variations in crustal density correlate with crustal composition. The low-bulk crustal density allows construction of a global crustal thickness model that satisfies the Apollo seismic constraints, and with an average crustal thickness between 34 and 43 kilometers, the bulk refractory element composition of the Moon is not required to be enriched with respect to that of Earth.",

author = "Wieczorek, {Mark A.} and Neumann, {Gregory A.} and Francis Nimmo and Kiefer, {Walter S.} and Taylor, {G. Jeffrey} and Melosh, {H. Jay} and Phillips, {Roger J.} and Solomon, {Sean C.} and Andrews-Hanna, {Jeffrey C.} and Asmar, {Sami W.} and Konopliv, {Alexander S.} and Lemoine, {Frank G.} and Smith, {David E.} and Watkins, {Michael M.} and Williams, {James G.} and Zuber, {Maria T.}",

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doi = "10.1126/science.1231530",

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AU - Wieczorek, Mark A.

AU - Neumann, Gregory A.

AU - Nimmo, Francis

AU - Kiefer, Walter S.

AU - Taylor, G. Jeffrey

AU - Melosh, H. Jay

AU - Phillips, Roger J.

AU - Solomon, Sean C.

AU - Andrews-Hanna, Jeffrey C.

AU - Asmar, Sami W.

AU - Konopliv, Alexander S.

AU - Lemoine, Frank G.

AU - Smith, David E.

AU - Watkins, Michael M.

AU - Williams, James G.

AU - Zuber, Maria T.

PY - 2013/2/8

Y1 - 2013/2/8

N2 - High-resolution gravity data obtained from the dual Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) spacecraft show that the bulk density of the Moon's highlands crust is 2550 kilograms per cubic meter, substantially lower than generally assumed. When combined with remote sensing and sample data, this density implies an average crustal porosity of 12% to depths of at least a few kilometers. Lateral variations in crustal porosity correlate with the largest impact basins, whereas lateral variations in crustal density correlate with crustal composition. The low-bulk crustal density allows construction of a global crustal thickness model that satisfies the Apollo seismic constraints, and with an average crustal thickness between 34 and 43 kilometers, the bulk refractory element composition of the Moon is not required to be enriched with respect to that of Earth.

AB - High-resolution gravity data obtained from the dual Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) spacecraft show that the bulk density of the Moon's highlands crust is 2550 kilograms per cubic meter, substantially lower than generally assumed. When combined with remote sensing and sample data, this density implies an average crustal porosity of 12% to depths of at least a few kilometers. Lateral variations in crustal porosity correlate with the largest impact basins, whereas lateral variations in crustal density correlate with crustal composition. The low-bulk crustal density allows construction of a global crustal thickness model that satisfies the Apollo seismic constraints, and with an average crustal thickness between 34 and 43 kilometers, the bulk refractory element composition of the Moon is not required to be enriched with respect to that of Earth.

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VL - 339

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JO - Science

JF - Science

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The crust of the moon as seen by GRAIL

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