Paleostress in the lunar crust estimated from the lunar magnetic anomalies

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25400445
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Solid earth and planetary physics
• Research Institution: Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: TSUNAKAWA Hideo 東京工業大学, 大学院理工学研究科, 教授 (40163852)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 月 / 磁気異常 / 応力場 / かぐや

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We have studied restoration of ancient stress field in the lunar crust on the basis of the lunar magnetic anomalies. Using the Surface Vector Mapping (SVM) method newly developed in this study, global maps of the lunar magnetic anomalies have been provided as the open access. The mapping results show many elongated anomalies, directions of which are not correlated with the surface topography and geology. Thus these elongated magnetic anomalies may be carried by intrusive rocks beneath the surface, recording ~4 Ga paleostress of the early Moon. The global pattern of the elongation directions suggests a systematic paleostress related to the de-spinning and/or polar wander of the Moon.

Free Research Field

地球惑星電磁気学