In the May Planetary Science Journal, researchers shared their analysis that the ice on the
the moon might have come from ancient volcanic eruptions.
Andrew Wilcoski is a planetary scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder. He and his crew did research to find out whether volcanoes might be a source of that lunar ice.
They built a computer model to simulate the condition of the moon. In ancient years, volcano
eruptions happened about once every 22,000 years. The team assumes that water made up
about a third of the gases released from volcanic eruptions. Their model also took many
important factors into accounts, such as the moon’s surface temperature, gas pressure, and the loss of some vapor to frost.
The team found that “About 40 percent of the total water vapor in eruptions could have settled into ice at the poles.”. The computer model predicts that today, “ice deposits on the moon are up to hundreds of meters (more than 700 feet) thick. It also predicts that the lunar south pole would be about twice as icy as the north pole.”
It is possible that the volcanic water vapor traveled to the poles through the atmosphere. To
prove it is true, scientists should examine the ice to check if sulfur can be detected within the
ice.
the moon might have come from ancient volcanic eruptions.
Andrew Wilcoski is a planetary scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder. He and his crew did research to find out whether volcanoes might be a source of that lunar ice.
They built a computer model to simulate the condition of the moon. In ancient years, volcano
eruptions happened about once every 22,000 years. The team assumes that water made up
about a third of the gases released from volcanic eruptions. Their model also took many
important factors into accounts, such as the moon’s surface temperature, gas pressure, and the loss of some vapor to frost.
The team found that “About 40 percent of the total water vapor in eruptions could have settled into ice at the poles.”. The computer model predicts that today, “ice deposits on the moon are up to hundreds of meters (more than 700 feet) thick. It also predicts that the lunar south pole would be about twice as icy as the north pole.”
It is possible that the volcanic water vapor traveled to the poles through the atmosphere. To
prove it is true, scientists should examine the ice to check if sulfur can be detected within the
ice.
