Studying relationships between lunar volcanic features: remote spectroscopy from visible to thermal infrared wavelengths

Pigue, Lori Michelle (2023) Studying relationships between lunar volcanic features: remote spectroscopy from visible to thermal infrared wavelengths. Doctoral thesis, Northern Arizona University.

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Abstract

To better understand the evolution of the lunar surface and subsurface, it is important to characterize the distribution of subsurface volatiles, which can be inferred from trends in volcanism and geologic history. Most volcanism on Earth has both effusive and explosive phases, whereas on the Moon effusive and explosive volcanism are often studied as separate events. I hypothesize that lunar volcanism is just as complex as terrestrial volcanism, where individual eruptions can experience multiple phases and can erupt from the same vent. To address this hypothesis, I employ multiple methodologies by conducting a global, regional, and local investigation, in wavelength ranges that span the visible to thermal infrared.In a global study, I combine and expand prior inventories of sites of explosive volcanism (called Lunar Pyroclastic Deposits or LPDs) and evaluate the relationship between the locations of LPDs to the lunar crustal structure and potential magma sources. Crustal thickness plays a role in volcanic emplacement, and multiple volcanic features can erupt from a shared magma source; however, I investigate whether these trends are globally true or deposit specific. Next, I focus on compositional relationships between volcanic features in the Montes Apenninus region. I find that co-located LPDs and effusive features (e.g., rilles, mare) can erupt from the same volcanic vent, even at the same time, although generally the stratigraphic and eruptive relationships between these features vary (in the same way that they do on Earth). Diving further into properties of LPDs, I then investigate the thermophysical properties of a subsample of the Montes Apeninnus region called the Mare Vaporum basin. I investigate a wide variety of features in this basin by temperature and find that we can establish different properties based on their different temperatures, rock abundances, and thermal intertias. These combined methods are used to infer a geologic history of these features, providing a wealth of information about volcanic features on the Moon.

Item Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Publisher’s Statement:	© Copyright is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the Cline Library, Northern Arizona University. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.
Keywords:	Lunar; Remote Sensing; Volcanology; Lunar geolodgy
Subjects:	Q Science > QB Astronomy
NAU Depositing Author Academic Status:	Student
Department/Unit:	Graduate College > Theses and Dissertations College of the Environment, Forestry, and Natural Sciences > Physics and Astronomy
Date Deposited:	28 Jul 2026 16:41
Last Modified:	28 Jul 2026 16:41
URI:	https://openknowledge.nau.edu/id/eprint/6318

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