Surface Roughness at the Moon’s South Pole: The Influence of Condensed Volatiles on Surface Roughness at the Moon’s South Pole

Abstract

Condensed volatiles within lunar permanently shadowed regions are of high scientific and resource utilization importance. Volatiles remain elusive and difficult to observe directly, due to low direct solar illumination. In this work, we investigate correlations between, as well as possible effects of, condensed volatiles and surface roughness. We analyze topographic roughness at 50 m and 30–120 m baselines of the lunar south pole (poleward of 85° S). We focus on six south polar craters of interest and their directly surrounding non-cold-trap areas: Faustini, Shoemaker, Haworth, Cabeus, Nobile, and an unnamed region. We further analyze six analogous equatorial craters to investigate the non-ice smoothing contributions: Morozov F, Rosenberger C, Van Maanen, Fraunhofer E, Brisbane, and Asclepi. Lastly, we compare a sunlit and a permanently shaded portion of the Amundsen crater floor. Utilizing data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter’s Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA), Lyman Alpha Mapping Project (LAMP), Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera, and Diviner Lunar Radiometer Experiment, we find subdued roughness within cold traps but determine that roughness is not a unique identifier of condensed volatiles. However, a correlation between LOLA roughness, LAMP normalized Off-band/On-band albedo, temperature, and water-ice stability suggests possible terrain softening due to condensed volatiles, although we cannot rule out dust ponding and/or fairy castle structure contributions. We conclude that LAMP volatile signatures at the topmost ∼100 nm may be indicative of volatile deposits at depths beyond the LAMP sensing capabilities.