Crustal structure of the Moon determined from short-period Rayleigh wave analysis
The lunar crustal structure is determined to be in a depth range of 0 to 40 km by means of Rayleigh wave analysis. The traces of three moonquakes were used to obtain Rayleigh wave dispersion (group velocities) in the short period range (fundamental mode: 0.5–12.5 s, first mode: 0.5–5.5 s, and second...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspas.2025.1433697/full |
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| author | Victor Corchete |
| author_facet | Victor Corchete |
| author_sort | Victor Corchete |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The lunar crustal structure is determined to be in a depth range of 0 to 40 km by means of Rayleigh wave analysis. The traces of three moonquakes were used to obtain Rayleigh wave dispersion (group velocities) in the short period range (fundamental mode: 0.5–12.5 s, first mode: 0.5–5.5 s, and second mode: 1–4 s). These moonquakes were registered by two stations placed on the Moon during the Apollo program. The dispersion was calculated with a combination of filtering techniques and was later inverted to the fundamental-mode dispersion to obtain an S-velocity model—an S-velocity distribution with depth. The S-velocity increased with depth, and a rapid S-velocity gradient was observed from 0 to 5 km in depth, while the S-velocity gradient became smaller down to 5 km in depth. While the present S-velocity model contributes to lunar crustal structure determination, more research is needed to precisely determine this structure, which will be possible when higher-quality data are acquired in future missions. Plain language summary: A rapid S-velocity gradient was determined from 0 to 5 km in depth. The low S-velocities (<2 km/s) determined for the first layers (0–2 km-depth) can be associated with the presence of broken and fractured materials at the uppermost lunar strata. The S-velocity increases with depth, but its gradient becomes slower deeper than 5 km. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bab8668d8d7a46f989d495ccb9c1f38f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2296-987X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-bab8668d8d7a46f989d495ccb9c1f38f2025-08-20T03:08:26ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences2296-987X2025-05-011210.3389/fspas.2025.14336971433697Crustal structure of the Moon determined from short-period Rayleigh wave analysisVictor CorcheteThe lunar crustal structure is determined to be in a depth range of 0 to 40 km by means of Rayleigh wave analysis. The traces of three moonquakes were used to obtain Rayleigh wave dispersion (group velocities) in the short period range (fundamental mode: 0.5–12.5 s, first mode: 0.5–5.5 s, and second mode: 1–4 s). These moonquakes were registered by two stations placed on the Moon during the Apollo program. The dispersion was calculated with a combination of filtering techniques and was later inverted to the fundamental-mode dispersion to obtain an S-velocity model—an S-velocity distribution with depth. The S-velocity increased with depth, and a rapid S-velocity gradient was observed from 0 to 5 km in depth, while the S-velocity gradient became smaller down to 5 km in depth. While the present S-velocity model contributes to lunar crustal structure determination, more research is needed to precisely determine this structure, which will be possible when higher-quality data are acquired in future missions. Plain language summary: A rapid S-velocity gradient was determined from 0 to 5 km in depth. The low S-velocities (<2 km/s) determined for the first layers (0–2 km-depth) can be associated with the presence of broken and fractured materials at the uppermost lunar strata. The S-velocity increases with depth, but its gradient becomes slower deeper than 5 km.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspas.2025.1433697/fullRayleigh waveshear wavecrustMoonApollo program |
| spellingShingle | Victor Corchete Crustal structure of the Moon determined from short-period Rayleigh wave analysis Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences Rayleigh wave shear wave crust Moon Apollo program |
| title | Crustal structure of the Moon determined from short-period Rayleigh wave analysis |
| title_full | Crustal structure of the Moon determined from short-period Rayleigh wave analysis |
| title_fullStr | Crustal structure of the Moon determined from short-period Rayleigh wave analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Crustal structure of the Moon determined from short-period Rayleigh wave analysis |
| title_short | Crustal structure of the Moon determined from short-period Rayleigh wave analysis |
| title_sort | crustal structure of the moon determined from short period rayleigh wave analysis |
| topic | Rayleigh wave shear wave crust Moon Apollo program |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspas.2025.1433697/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT victorcorchete crustalstructureofthemoondeterminedfromshortperiodrayleighwaveanalysis |