Abstract
It is shown that the mean value for the heat flow of a gravitationally-differentiated Moon of fission origin is about 13 erg cm−2 s−1 and that the heat flow varies regionally from about 3 erg cm−2s−1 to more than 45 erg cm−2s−1. These regional variations in the heat flow are caused by a non-uniform distribution of K, U and Th in the KREEP zone at the crust-upper mantle boundary and the redistribution of crustal materials and K, U and Th rich KREEP materials by basin-forming impacts. The scale of these regional variations is hundreds of km. The models presented are in accord with the Apollo 15 and 17 heat flow measurements.
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Binder, A.B. On the heat flow of a gravitationally-differentiated moon of fission origin. The Moon 14, 237–245 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00565324
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00565324