The behavior of volatiles on the lunar surface
Abstract
Volatiles, and water in particular, have been thought to be unstable on the lunar surface because of the rapid removal of constituents of the lunar atmosphere by solar radiation, solar wind, and gravitational escape. The limiting factor in removal of a volatile from the moon, however, is actually the evaporation rate of the solid phase, which will be collected at the coldest points on the lunar surface. We present a detailed theory of the behavior of volatiles on the lunar surface based on solid-vapor kinetic relationships, and show that water is far more stable there than the noble gases or other possible constituents of the lunar atmosphere. Numerical calculations indicate the amount of water lost from the moon since the present surface conditions were initiated is only a few grams per square centimeter of the lunar surface. The amount of ice eventually detected in lunar ‘cold traps’ thus will provide a sensitive indication of the degree of chemical differentiation of the moon.
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The idea of water ice existing on the Moon was first proposed by Watson et al. in 1961.
“The idea of water ice existing on the Moon was first proposed by Watson et al. in 1961. 78”
From Energy system and resource utilization in space: A state-of-the-art review (2024) · cites this paper as [78]
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- Authors
- Watson, K., Murray, B. C., & Brown, H.
- Affiliations
- California Institute of Technology (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Geophysical Research
- Publisher
- American Geophysical Union (AGU)
- Published
- 1961-09
- Volume
- 66
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 3033-3045
- ISSN
- 0148-0227 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2161264942
- Cited by
- 491
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2026: 29 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 35 · 2023: 41 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 15
- FWCI
- 9.47
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres (publishedVersion)
- CaltechAUTHORS (California Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astro and Planetary Science
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Planetary Science and Exploration
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Aerospace Engineering › Spacecraft Design and Technology
- Keywords
- lunar volatiles, lunar water, lunar atmosphere, water stability, noble gases, solar radiation, solar wind, lunar water ice
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