Proquest Dissertations
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Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9” black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. Bell & Howell Information and beaming 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Aitor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 UMI' SATELLITE GEOPHYSICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE MOON DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for The Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Laramie V. Potts. B.Sc., M.Sc. The Ohio State University 2000 Dissertation Committee: Approved Dr. Christopher Jekeli. Adviser Adviser Dr. Carolyn Merry Department of Civil and Environrr^ental Engineering Dr. C. Shum ahd Geodetic Science Dr. Ralph R. B. von Frese. Co-Adviser /Co-^pviser Department of Geological Sciences UMI Number; 9994924 UMI UMI Microform 9994924 Copyright 2001 by Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. Bell & Howell Information and Learning Company 300 North Zeeb Road P.O. 80X1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 © Copyright by Laraniio \ ’. Potts 2Ü0Ü ABSTRACT Lunar mass variations For the region ±G4" latitude related to composition, struc ture. isostatic and tectonic development of the crnst. mantle, and core were developed using gravity and topography From Lunar Prospector. Clementine, and earlier satel lite observations. Computed terrain gravity eFFects were spectrally correlated with the Free-air anomalies to diFFerentiate the terrain-corndated and -decorrelated Free- air components. .-Vunihilating terrain gravity eFFects. obtained by subtracting the terrain-corndated anomalies From the terrain gravity tdlects. were used to estimate the lunar Moho and crustal thicknesses by least scpiares inversion assuming compen sation by crustal thickiiess variations. Inversion oF the terrain-correlated anomalies obtained a ratlial adjustment model oF the .\Ioho that ecpiilibrates the lunar topog raphy. Terrain-decorrelated anomalies were diFFerentiated into crustal and sidmrustal components based on their correlation spectrum with the Free-air anomalies. Inver sion oF the terrain-decorrelated crustal maxima over central basins predicted mare Fill thicknesses up to a Few kilometers. Inversion oF the subcrustal components iiiFerred boundary undulations For the core-mantle. asthenosphere-lithosphere. and middle- upper mantle during bombardment time. Nearly all major nearside basins exhibit niascon gravity anomalies reFlecting mass concentrations From superisostatic mantle plugs plus mare Fill, while Farside basins mostly involve maslite gravity anomalies From mass deficiencies due to subisostatic mantle plugs with marginal or no mare till. The preponderance of farside maslites sug gests a weaker nearside lithosphere due to higher thermal gradients from enhanced abundances of radioactive elements in the nearside mantle and crust than the far side. Comparing crustal thicknesses with transient cavity diameters suggests a crit ical crustal thickness of about 30 km presumably differentiatetl the development of siiperisostatic and suuisosialic mantle plugs on tlie farsitie. inferred subcrustal bound ary undidations tend tu support mantle convection on the nearside involving diapiric rise of magma, whereas viscous entrainment on the farside inhibited basalt Hooding of basins. The elevated core-mantle boundary beneath the Procellaruni-Imbrium basins is consistent with uplifting effects of the Imbrium impact involved with the "Great Lunar Hotspot". Comparison of the gravity and topography spectra of the terres trial planets suggests the Moon has the lowest temperature gradient and hydrostatic eciuilibrinm. Ill ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First and foremost. I wish to express my deepest appreciation to my wife Natalie and son Courtney for tiieir patience and constant support during tiie (iirficuit and long but certainly fruitful years of my gratluate studies. To my son. I give a special thanks for keeping my spirits up and for tolerating my long and frequent absences. I wish to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Ralph von Frese for his brilliant tutelage, tinancial support and professional guidance during the course of by doctoral research and for his patience in correcting both my stylistic and scientific errors. 1 am also indebted to Dr. .John Bossier for his enthusiasm, initiative, and resourceful ness in securing funding for this research. 1 am grateful to Dr. Christopher .Jekeli for stimulating and constructive discussions and valuable suggestions which greatly enhanced the quality of this dissertation. .My gratitude and appreciation go to Drs. Merry and Shum for their expert advice and comments during my research and the reviews of this manuscript. Special thanks are also due to Dr. .Jens Munk. Hyung Rae Kim. Timothy Left- wich. and LeeAnn Munk for helpful discussions and to Brent Curtiss for computer assistance. This work has been partially supported by grants from .\AS.A. Goddard Space Flight Center (PO S-97647-Z). Center for .Mapping at The Ohio State University, and the Ohio Supercomputer Center. IV VITA August 7. 1961 ...........................................................Walvis Bay. Xamihia December 1984 B.Sc. Surveying. L’liiversity of Cape Town. South .\tVica. 1986-1989 ......................................................................Professional Land Surveying. Cliff Har- vev and Partners, South .\frica. March. 1993 M.Sc. Geodetic Science and Surveying. The Ohio State L'niversitv. US.A.. 1993 - 1995 .................................................................. Graduate Teaching .Assistant. The Ohio State L'niversitv. US.A. 1994 - 1996 .................................................................. Graduate .Administrative .Assitant Physical Facilities. The Ohio State University. US.A. 1997 - present .............................................................Graduate Research .Associated. Center for Mapping. The Ohio State Univer- sitv. US.A. PUBLICATIONS Research Publications 1. Leftwich. T. E.. R. R. B. von Frese. H. R. Kim. L. A'. Potts. D. R. Ro man and L. Tan. Crustal .Analysis of A'enus from Magellan satellite Observations at Atalanta Planitia. Beta Regio and Thetis Regio. J. Geophys. Res.. 104(E4). 8441 - 8462. 1998 2. von Frese. R. R. B.. L. \'. Potts. L. Tan. .J. \V. Khn. T. E. Leftwich. C. J. Merry and .J. D. Bossier. Comparative Crustal Modeling of the Moon and Earth from Topographic and Gravity Correlations. (.Abstract 1870). 29th Lunar Planet. Set. Conf. 1998 8. von Frese. R. R. B.. L. Tan. L. \ ’. Ports. .]. \\’. Kim. C. J. Merry and .J. D. Bossier. Lunar Crustal .Analysis of Mare Oriental from Topographic and Gravity Correlations. ,/. Geophys. Res.. 102(E11). 25657 - 25676. 1997. 4. von Frese. R. R. B.. L. Tan. L. \ ’. Potts. C. .J. Merry and .J. D. Bossier. Lunar Crustal Modeling of Mare Orientale from Clementine satellite observations (abstract). 27th Lunar Planet. Set. Conf.. 1363-1364. 1996 FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: Geodetic Science and Surveying Studies in: .Adjustments of Observations Dr. Btirkhard Schaffrin Geodynamics Dr. Ivan Mueller Geomathematics. Geostatistic Dr. Ralph von Frese GPS and Satellite Geodesy Dr. Clyde Goad Gravimetric Geodesy Dr. Richard Rapp Mapping and Cartography Dr. .Joseph Loon Remote Sensing Dr. Carolvn Merrv VI TABLE OF CONTENTS Page A b stra c t ............................................................................................................................................ ii Acknowledgments ......................................................................................................................... iv \ ’i t a ................................................................................................................................................... V List oF T a b le s ................................................................................................................................. x List of Figures ............................................................................................................................. xiii Chapters: 1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................... I 1.1 Background and M otivation .............................................................................. I 1.2 Objectives .................................................................................................................