INVESTIGATION OF MAGNETIC FIELDS ASSOCIATED WITH VARIOUS LUNAR SWIRLS
OBSERVED IN THE FAR-ULTRAVIOLET
- Dany Waller,
- Joshua Cahill,
- Anna Wirth-Singh
Joshua Cahill
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Author ProfileAbstract
To explore a possible relationship between low FUV albedo swirl
signatures and magnetic anomalies on the Moon, we are examining the
modeled at-surface total field and vector components of select anomalies
with respect to observations in the ultraviolet. UV wavelengths are
extremely sensitive to space weathering and could indicate the presence
of uneven weathering even at weak magnetic anomalies. Preliminary
results are in agreement with previous work suggesting that swirls may
be due to lessened weathering from solar wind deflection by their
associated magnetic anomalies, as swirl regions with lower FUV values
correlate with at-surface magnetic fields that are potentially capable
of standing off some degree of solar wind. However, not all anomalies
have magnetic field geometry that support this theory, implying other
processes may be at play to create swirl-like morphology in these
regions.