Long‐Lasting Volcanism of the Moon Aided by the Switch in Dominant Mechanisms of Magma Ascent: Role of Localized Radioactive Enrichment in a Numerical Model of Magmatism and Mantle Convection
Abstract Significant volcanic activity continued for billions of years since 3.5–4 Gyr ago in the Procellarum KREEP Terrane (PKT) of the Moon, but not so significant outside the PKT. To understand this volcanic history, we developed a 2‐D numerical model of magmatism and mantle convection; the effec...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL115215 |
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| author | Ken'yo U Masanori Kameyama Gaku Nishiyama Takehiro Miyagoshi Masaki Ogawa |
| author_facet | Ken'yo U Masanori Kameyama Gaku Nishiyama Takehiro Miyagoshi Masaki Ogawa |
| author_sort | Ken'yo U |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Significant volcanic activity continued for billions of years since 3.5–4 Gyr ago in the Procellarum KREEP Terrane (PKT) of the Moon, but not so significant outside the PKT. To understand this volcanic history, we developed a 2‐D numerical model of magmatism and mantle convection; the effects of the PKT on lunar evolution are considered by initially imposing a region of localized radioactive enrichment. The calculated volcanism is driven by two different mechanisms. Early volcanism occurs when magma generated in the deep mantle by internal heating ascends to the surface as partially molten plumes. The basaltic blobs in the uppermost mantle formed by this magmatism then sink into the deep mantle, triggering further plumes that cause a resurgence of volcanism in its later history. Our model suggests that later plumes caused by sinking basaltic blobs are the cause of the long‐lasting volcanism in the PKT. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f6ac47eebb7c4658bb3fad298a41d993 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-f6ac47eebb7c4658bb3fad298a41d9932025-08-20T03:39:00ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-04-01528n/an/a10.1029/2025GL115215Long‐Lasting Volcanism of the Moon Aided by the Switch in Dominant Mechanisms of Magma Ascent: Role of Localized Radioactive Enrichment in a Numerical Model of Magmatism and Mantle ConvectionKen'yo U0Masanori Kameyama1Gaku Nishiyama2Takehiro Miyagoshi3Masaki Ogawa4Department of Earth Sciences and Astronomy The University of Tokyo Meguro JapanGeodynamics Research Center Ehime University Matsuyama JapanGerman Aerospace Center Institute of Planetary Research Berlin GermanyJapan Agency for Marine‐Earth Science and Technology Yokohama JapanDepartment of Earth Sciences and Astronomy The University of Tokyo Meguro JapanAbstract Significant volcanic activity continued for billions of years since 3.5–4 Gyr ago in the Procellarum KREEP Terrane (PKT) of the Moon, but not so significant outside the PKT. To understand this volcanic history, we developed a 2‐D numerical model of magmatism and mantle convection; the effects of the PKT on lunar evolution are considered by initially imposing a region of localized radioactive enrichment. The calculated volcanism is driven by two different mechanisms. Early volcanism occurs when magma generated in the deep mantle by internal heating ascends to the surface as partially molten plumes. The basaltic blobs in the uppermost mantle formed by this magmatism then sink into the deep mantle, triggering further plumes that cause a resurgence of volcanism in its later history. Our model suggests that later plumes caused by sinking basaltic blobs are the cause of the long‐lasting volcanism in the PKT.https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL115215Moonmantle convectionmagmatismnumerical simulation |
| spellingShingle | Ken'yo U Masanori Kameyama Gaku Nishiyama Takehiro Miyagoshi Masaki Ogawa Long‐Lasting Volcanism of the Moon Aided by the Switch in Dominant Mechanisms of Magma Ascent: Role of Localized Radioactive Enrichment in a Numerical Model of Magmatism and Mantle Convection Geophysical Research Letters Moon mantle convection magmatism numerical simulation |
| title | Long‐Lasting Volcanism of the Moon Aided by the Switch in Dominant Mechanisms of Magma Ascent: Role of Localized Radioactive Enrichment in a Numerical Model of Magmatism and Mantle Convection |
| title_full | Long‐Lasting Volcanism of the Moon Aided by the Switch in Dominant Mechanisms of Magma Ascent: Role of Localized Radioactive Enrichment in a Numerical Model of Magmatism and Mantle Convection |
| title_fullStr | Long‐Lasting Volcanism of the Moon Aided by the Switch in Dominant Mechanisms of Magma Ascent: Role of Localized Radioactive Enrichment in a Numerical Model of Magmatism and Mantle Convection |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long‐Lasting Volcanism of the Moon Aided by the Switch in Dominant Mechanisms of Magma Ascent: Role of Localized Radioactive Enrichment in a Numerical Model of Magmatism and Mantle Convection |
| title_short | Long‐Lasting Volcanism of the Moon Aided by the Switch in Dominant Mechanisms of Magma Ascent: Role of Localized Radioactive Enrichment in a Numerical Model of Magmatism and Mantle Convection |
| title_sort | long lasting volcanism of the moon aided by the switch in dominant mechanisms of magma ascent role of localized radioactive enrichment in a numerical model of magmatism and mantle convection |
| topic | Moon mantle convection magmatism numerical simulation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2025GL115215 |
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