Terrestrial tidal variations in the selenopotential coefficients

Abstract

The variations in the coefficients of the harmonics of second degree of the selenopotential caused by the terrestrial tides have been studied. In the paper we use analytical expressions for the tidal variations in the Stokes coefficients obtained for a model of the elastic celestial body with a concentric distribution of mass using the fundamental elastic parameter k 2 of the Moon. Taking into account the resonant properties of the Moon's motion, the variations in the selenopotential coefficients are presented in the form of Fourier series in the arguments of the theory of lunar orbital motion: l M , l S , F and D. The variations in the polar moment of inertia of the Moon due to the terrestrial tides lead to marked variations in the Moon's axial rotation, which also have been determined and tabulated. From the results obtained, it follows that the tide periodic variations in the gravitational coefficients of the Moon are an order larger than the corresponding tide variations in the geopotential coefficients.