Evolution of the Lunar Magnetic Field

Luo, Hao1,2; Wang, Huapei3; Cai, Shuhui2,4; Qin, Huafeng2,4; Lin, Yufeng5; Jia, Yingzhuo6; Tian, Lin1,2; Ge, Yasong1,2; Hong, Bincheng3; Jiang, Xuelong3; Du, Aimin1,2

2024-05-29

10.34133/space.0155

SPACE: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY   影响因子和分区

2692-7659

The Moon currently lacks a global magnetic field; however, both paleomagnetic analyses of lunar rock samples and orbital magnetic measurements indicate that it once possessed a core dynamo. Magnetic field measurements of some datable impact basins suggest that the lunar core dynamo persists to the Nectarian period (similar to 3.9 to 3.8 billion years ago Ga). Investigations of the Apollo samples using modern methods demonstrate that the field overall was active between 4.25 and 1.92 Ga. During the period prior to 3.56 Ga, the field was sometimes comparable to Earth's but subsequently declined dramatically and ultimately ceased. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the dynamo generation and duration. Thermal convection in the lunar core could have provided dynamo energy for the first several hundred million years while core crystallization could have sustained the dynamo for up to 1.5 Ga. Other mechanisms, such as mantle and/or inner core precession, changes in the rotation rate of the lunar mantle caused by impacts, and a basal magma ocean, also hold the potential to power the dynamo during some time of lunar evolutionary history. Impacts related to plasmas are believed to be insufficient for crustal magnetization though they can amplify the pre-existing magnetic field before the impacts. This paper summarizes and reviews the current understanding of lunar magnetic field evolution, including paleomagnetic studies that quantify the timing of the lunar surface strength, global crustal magnetization features derived from recent global magnetic field models based on orbital magnetic measurements, and various models explaining the powering of a lunar dynamo, which can account for most observations. Finally, we propose the outstanding questions and offer guidance for future lunar exploration such as the Chang'E series and lunar scientific observatories.

ESCI ; EI

英语

其他

Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences[XDB41010304] ; National Natural Science Foundation of China["42374217","42274224","42030205","42241101"] ; National Key R&D Program of China[2022YFF0503200] ; Key Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences["ZDBS-SSW-TLC001","ZDBS-SSW-JSC007-3"] ; Key Research Programs of the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences["IGGCAS-202102","IGGCAS-202101"]

Engineering ; Astronomy & Astrophysics

Engineering, Aerospace ; Astronomy & Astrophysics

WOS:001237697500002

AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE

Web of Science

1.Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Geol & Geophys, CAS Engn Lab Deep Resources Equipment & Technol, Beijing, Peoples R China
2.Univ Chinese Acad Sci, Coll Earth & Planetary Sci, Beijing, Peoples R China
3.China Univ Geosci, Sch Geophys & Geomat, Paleomagnetism & Planetary Magnetism Lab, Wuhan, Peoples R China
4.Chinese Acad Sci, Inst Geol & Geophys, State Key Lab Lithospher Evolut, Beijing, Peoples R China
5.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Dept Earth & Space Sci, Shenzhen, Peoples R China
6.Chinese Acad Sci, Natl Space Sci Ctr, Beijing, Peoples R China

Luo, Hao,Wang, Huapei,Cai, Shuhui,et al. Evolution of the Lunar Magnetic Field[J]. SPACE: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY,2024,4.

Luo, Hao.,Wang, Huapei.,Cai, Shuhui.,Qin, Huafeng.,Lin, Yufeng.,...&Du, Aimin.(2024).Evolution of the Lunar Magnetic Field.SPACE: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY,4.

Luo, Hao,et al."Evolution of the Lunar Magnetic Field".SPACE: SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 4(2024).