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Post-Formation Sodium Loss on the Moon: A Bulk EstimateThe Moon and Earth are generally similar in terms of composition, but there exist variations in the abundance of certain elements among the two bodies. These differences are a likely consequence of differing physical evolution of the two bodies over the solar system's history. While previous works have assumed this may be due to conditions during the Moonâ€"TM"s formation, we explore the likelihood that the observed depletion in Sodium in lunar samples may be partially due to post-formation mechanisms. Solar effects, loss from a primordial atmosphere and impacts are some of the dominant post-formation mechanisms that we examine. We describe how our past and current modeling efforts indicate that a significant fraction of the observed depletion of sodium in lunar samples relative to a bulk silicate earth composition may have been due to solar activity, atmospheric loss and impacts. Using profiles of sodium abundances from lunar crustal samples may thus serve as a powerful tool towards exploring conditions on the Moon's surface throughout solar system history. Conditions on the Moon immediately after formation may still be recorded in the lunar crust and may provide a window towards interpreting observations from some of the first rocky exoplanets that will be most amenable to characterization. Potential spatial variation of sodium in the lunar crust may be a relevant consideration for future sample return efforts. Sodium Depletion in the Lunar Crust: Lunar
Document ID
20180001993
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Saxena, P.
(Universities Space Research Association Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Killen, R. M.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Airapetian, V.
(Adnet Systems, Inc. Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Petro, N. E.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Mandell, A. M.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
March 21, 2018
Publication Date
March 19, 2018
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Report/Patent Number
GSFC-E-DAA-TN53687
Meeting Information
Meeting: Lunar and Planetary Science Conference
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Country: United States
Start Date: March 19, 2018
End Date: March 23, 2018
Sponsors: Lunar and Planetary Inst., NASA Johnson Space Center
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: 80GSFC17C0003
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNH15CO48B
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
Solar
Silicate Earth
Sodium
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