Remote Sensing Investigations of Lunar Surface Evolution

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dc.contributor.advisorLucey, Paul G.
dc.contributor.authorChertok, Marley Aviva
dc.contributor.departmentEarth and Planetary Sciences
dc.date.accessioned2025-02-20T22:37:08Z
dc.date.available2025-02-20T22:37:08Z
dc.date.issued2024
dc.description.degreePh.D.
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10125/110242
dc.subjectPlanetology
dc.subjectImpact Craters
dc.subjectLunar Highlands
dc.subjectLunar Volcanism
dc.subjectMoon
dc.subjectPlanetary Science
dc.subjectRegolith
dc.titleRemote Sensing Investigations of Lunar Surface Evolution
dc.typeThesis
dcterms.abstractThe lunar regolith, a poorly sorted layer of impact-generated debris that coats the entirety of the lunar surface, underlies the boots of astronauts, composes a large portion of the lunar sample suite, and is the primary material scientists can study remotely. Therefore, understanding the nature and evolution of regolith is essential to planning future missions. This dissertation explores differences in rock and regolith evolution on diverse surfaces across the Moon using multispectral remote sensing data and impact craters. In Chapter 2, I demonstrate that the volcanic maria, which were once thought to be homogeneous, are diverse and were likely formed by a spectrum of emplacement conditions. Thus, the regolith on these diverse surfaces evolves variably depending on the properties of the parent rock. In Chapter 3, I show that the highlands, which cover most of the lunar surface, are blanketed by a thick regolith that is highly variable. The estimate of a 10-15 meter thick regolith at the Apollo landing sites has typically been taken to be representative of most of the highlands. However, my analysis of rocky craters reveals that 95% of the highlands are covered by regolith thicker than 50 meters. Finally, in Chapter 4, I show that highlands topography influences regolith maturity. Relatively immature regolith is more likely to occur atop high-standing topography, while mature regolith is more common on low-lying terrain. This is a key finding that is relevant to the upcoming Artemis missions, which will explore high topography at the lunar South Pole. My findings enable us to predict that Artemis astronauts will encounter regolith that is immature and possibly abnormally thin due to the catastrophic loss of material from topographic highs.
dcterms.extent136 pages
dcterms.languageen
dcterms.publisherUniversity of Hawai'i at Manoa
dcterms.rightsAll UHM dissertations and theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission from the copyright owner.
dcterms.typeText
local.identifier.alturihttp://dissertations.umi.com/hawii:12339

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Ph.D. - Earth and Planetary Sciences