Formation of lunar swirls by magnetic field standoff of the solar wind

Timothy D. Glotch (), Joshua L. Bandfield, Paul G. Lucey, Paul O. Hayne, Benjamin T. Greenhagen, Jessica A. Arnold, Rebecca R. Ghent and David A. Paige
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Timothy D. Glotch: Stony Brook University
Joshua L. Bandfield: Space Science Institute
Paul G. Lucey: Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawaii
Paul O. Hayne: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Benjamin T. Greenhagen: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jessica A. Arnold: Stony Brook University
Rebecca R. Ghent: University of Toronto
David A. Paige: University of California Los Angeles

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Lunar swirls are high-albedo markings on the Moon that occur in both mare and highland terrains; their origin remains a point of contention. Here, we use data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Diviner Lunar Radiometer to support the hypothesis that the swirls are formed as a result of deflection of the solar wind by local magnetic fields. Thermal infrared data from this instrument display an anomaly in the position of the silicate Christiansen Feature consistent with reduced space weathering. These data also show that swirl regions are not thermophysically anomalous, which strongly constrains their formation mechanism. The results of this study indicate that either solar wind sputtering and implantation are more important than micrometeoroid bombardment in the space-weathering process, or that micrometeoroid bombardment is a necessary but not sufficient process in space weathering, which occurs on airless bodies throughout the solar system.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7189

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