Abstract
Three-layer monotonic electrical conductivity models for the lunar interior to a depth of 600 km are used in conjunction with laboratory measurements of the electrical conductivity of olivine and pyroxene to estimate a temperature–depth profile. The temperatures calculated for depths of 400–600 km are consistent with attenuation of the seismic shear wave. The temperature calculated at a depth of 100–250 km yields a heat flow that is in good agreement with the directly measured lunar heat flow. The temperature, however, is sufficiently close to melting that mascon anisostasy would not be maintained. Thus a better conductor is required at this depth.
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Sonett, C., Duba, A. Lunar temperature and global heat flux from laboratory electrical conductivity and lunar magnetometer data. Nature 258, 118–121 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/258118a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/258118a0
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