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Lunar temperature and global heat flux from laboratory electrical conductivity and lunar magnetometer data

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Abstract

Three-layer monotonic electrical conductivity models for the lunar interior to a depth of 600 km are used in conjunction with laboratory measurements of the electrical conductivity of olivine and pyroxene to estimate a temperature–depth profile. The temperatures calculated for depths of 400–600 km are consistent with attenuation of the seismic shear wave. The temperature calculated at a depth of 100–250 km yields a heat flow that is in good agreement with the directly measured lunar heat flow. The temperature, however, is sufficiently close to melting that mascon anisostasy would not be maintained. Thus a better conductor is required at this depth.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Planetary Sciences and Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, 85721

    C. P. Sonett

  2. University of California, Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, Livermore, California, 94550

    A. Duba

Authors
  1. C. P. Sonett
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  2. A. Duba
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Sonett, C., Duba, A. Lunar temperature and global heat flux from laboratory electrical conductivity and lunar magnetometer data. Nature 258, 118–121 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/258118a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/258118a0

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