New Insights into Surface Deposits in the Balmer-Kapteyn Cryptomare Region Provided by Chang’E-2 Microwave Radiometer Data

Abstract

Lunar cryptomare records both early-stage mare volcanisms and large-scale impact cratering, which can provide important information about the thermal evolution of the Moon. We built a mixing dielectric constant model to represent the cryptomare deposits mixed by highland debris and mare deposits, and the proper radiative transfer simulation was constructed to evaluate the thermal emission features of surface deposits in the cryptomare region. The microwave radiometer (MRM) data in the Balmer-Kapteyn region were extracted, and the linear interpolation method was used to generate brightness temperature (TB) maps at noon and at night. To enhance the correlation between cryptomare deposits and TB performances, normalized TB (nTB) and TB difference (dTB) maps were also generated. Combined with the datasets, including Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Wide Angle Camera, Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter, and Diviner and Clementine UV–VIS, the main findings are as follows: (1) The mare-like cryptomare deposits were discovered and identified according to the nTB and dTB performances. Combined with the surface compositions, at least two kinds of buried mare deposits were identified in the B-K region, which erupted during different episodes. (2) A construct-like volcanic feature was suggested by the nTB and dTB performances. (3) The results of our analysis indicated the presence of materials with low dTB anomalies in the northern and southwestern parts of the cryptomare region and in the mare unit within the Vendelinus crater, which illustrates the heterogeneity of the lunar crust in the vertical direction.

Study of Surface Deposits in the Schiller–Schickard Cryptomare Region: Insights From CE-2 MRM Data

“…> < 2 [3], [4], [13], [17], [18] using MRM data. The thermal emission properties of surface deposits in the B-K cryptomare region were assessed by Tang et al [15]. These results demonstrate the special use of MRM data in comprehending lunar surface deposits.…”

“…It has been shown that MRM data are sensitive to substrate regolith temperature at different depths, compositions, and thermal emission features. These information provide a thorough explanation of surface deposits in a vertical direction [4], [12][13][14][15][16]. The microwave thermal emission properties of mare deposits in Moscoviense Basin and Mare Australe, mare units in Rümker, and surface deposits in Tsiolkovskiy crater were assessed by Meng et al…”

“…Consequently, MRM data may present a fresh angle for examining surface deposits in the S-S cryptomare region, which may yield insightful information. Tang et al [15] first introduced and defined the concept of Mare-like Cryptomare Deposits (MCD), suggesting that MCD represent the deposits with a higher proportion of mare basalts mixed with highland debris. This is crucial for better understanding the thermal properties of subsurface basalts.…”

Gravity Data Reveal Origin of Cryptomaria

“…The process of ejecta deposition from large craters would have occurred concurrently with basalt emplacement 34 , potentially affecting the lling of the basins. Furthermore, studies utilizing data from the Chang'E-2 microwave radiometer and groundbased radar 12,13 have provided insights into the shallow subsurface of the cryptomaria. Compared to spectral data, these techniques have the advantage of detecting deeper information, to infer the boundary between the upper ejecta of the cryptomaria and the lower mare basalts.…”

A Unified Brightness Temperature Features Analysis Framework for Mapping Mare Basalt Units Using Chang’e-2 Lunar Microwave Sounder (CELMS) Data

“…Accurate mapping of the mineral composition of the lunar surface is crucial for understanding the thermal evolution of the Moon and the formation of its mare and mascons [1,2]. However, the presence of nanophase iron (np-Fe 0 ) particles resulting from space weathering, as well as the lunar soil cover, introduce significant uncertainties in the retrieval of the lunar surface mineral composition using multispectral remote sensing data [3].…”