Researchers at the University of Rochester published new work in Nature Communications Earth and Environment that models how atmospheric particles could travel from Earth to the moon. Apollo soil samples from the 1970s contain volatiles such as water, carbon dioxide, helium, argon and nitrogen. While the solar wind accounts for some material, the amount of nitrogen in the regolith is larger than expected. In 2005 some researchers proposed that volatiles came from Earth’s atmosphere but only before Earth had a magnetic field.
The Rochester team ran advanced computer simulations and compared two scenarios: an early Earth with no magnetic field and a strong solar wind, and a modern Earth with a strong magnetic field and weaker solar wind. Their models show transfer is more effective in the modern scenario, when charged particles are stripped from the upper atmosphere and guided along magnetic field lines that extend toward the moon.
The results suggest the moon may preserve a long-term chemical record of Earth’s atmosphere, climate and oceans, and that extra volatiles on the moon could help support sustained human presence. The work was funded in part by NASA and the National Science Foundation.
Difficult words
- volatile — gases or liquids that evaporate easilyvolatiles
- regolith — loose surface material on the moon or Earth
- solar wind — stream of charged particles from the Sun
- magnetic field — area of magnetic force around a planet or object
- charged particle — an atom or particle with electric chargecharged particles
- transfer — movement of material from one place to another
- preserve — keep something safe or unchanged over time
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Discussion questions
- Do you think extra volatiles on the moon could help future human missions? Why or why not?
- How could a chemical record on the moon help scientists learn about Earth's past atmosphere or climate?
- Which scenario seems more surprising to you: transfer being more effective with a modern magnetic field or with no magnetic field? Explain briefly.
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