SPRG Seminars
April 12, 2011:
"Lunar magnetic anomalies and the formation of swirl-shaped surface markings"
Ianh Garrick-Bethell, UC Santa Cruz
The origin of regions of strongly magnetized crust remains a significant open problem in lunar science. These regions could provide insight into the past history of a lunar magnetic dynamo, or the existence of transient magnetic fields produced by impacts. However, magnetized crust is also interesting for another reason: some magnetized regions are associated with very unusual albedo patterns on the lunar surface. I will present our current understanding of magnetic anomalies, as well as two competing theories for the formation of their associated albedo patterns. One of these theories involves the movement of electrically charged dust above the lunar surface.