The Structure and Compensation of the Lunar Highland Crust

Computer Science

Scientific paper

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Compensation, Gravity, Highlands: Lunar, Moon, Structures: Crustal

Scientific paper

Using newly obtained gravity and topography data as well as a near global surface iron concentration map obtained from the Clementine mission, the structure and compensation of the lunar crust have been investigated. Geoid to topography ratios (GTRs) are tested against single layer Pratt and Airy compensation models, as well as dual-layered Airy models. For the single layer Airy model it is found that compensation occurs intracrustally at a depth of approximately 40 km. This is consistent with the existence of a 20 km seismic discontinuity at the Apollo 12 and 14 sites (which lie 1.7 km below the mean planetary radius.) For the two layer model it is necessary for the crust to be vertically stratified with an upper crustal thickness lying between 0 and 26 km. Lateral variations in crustal density are found to be more than an order of magnitude less than expected for a Pratt compensation model that fits the GTR data. We are currently attempting to determine the relative amounts of compensation that would occur at the upper-lower crustal interface and Moho due to the emplacement of a surface load.

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