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AGU: Geophysical Research Letters

 

Index Terms

  • Planetology: Solar System Objects: Moon
  • Interplanetary Physics: Energetic particles, solar
  • Planetology: Solid Surface Planets: Surface materials and properties
  • Magnetospheric Physics: Solar wind/magnetosphere interactions

Abstract

Estimated solar wind‐implanted helium‐3 distribution on the Moon

Jeffrey R. Johnson

United States Geological Survey, Flagstaff, AZ

Timothy D. Swindle

Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson

Paul G. Lucey

Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu

Among the solar wind‐implanted volatiles present in the lunar regolith, ³He is possibly the most valuable resource because of its potential as a fusion fuel. The abundance of ³He in the lunar regolith at a given location depends on surface maturity, the amount of solar wind fluence, and titanium content, because ilmenite (FeTiO3) retains helium much better than other major lunar minerals. Surface maturity and TiO2 maps from Clementine multispectral data sets are combined here with a solar wind fluence model to produce a ³He abundance map of the Moon. Comparison of the predicted ³He values to landing site observations shows good correlation. The highest ³He abundances occur in the farside maria (due to greater solar wind fluence received) and in higher TiO2 nearside mare regions.

Received 6 October 1998; accepted 24 November 1998; .

Citation: Johnson, J. R., T. D. Swindle, and P. G. Lucey (1999), Estimated solar wind‐implanted helium‐3 distribution on the Moon, Geophys. Res. Lett., 26(3), 385–388.

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