Lunar Palaeoregolith Deposits as Recorders of the Galactic Environment of the Solar System and Implications for Astrobiology

Earth, Moon and Planets

Volumn 107, Issue 1, 2010, Pages 75-85

  Crawford, Ian A ^a,b   Fagents, Sarah A ^c   Joy, Katherine H ^b,d,e   Rumpf, M Elise ^c  

^a UNIVERSITY OF LONDON   (United Kingdom)

^b UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON   (United Kingdom)

^c UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII   (United States)

^d LUNAR AND PLANETARY INSTITUTE   (United States)

^e NASA HEADQUARTERS   (United States)

Author keywords

Astrobiology; Galactic history; Galactic structure; Lunar exploration; Lunar regolith; Moon

Indexed keywords

EXOBIOLOGY; EXPLORATION; LUNAR SOIL; MOON; REGOLITH; SOLAR SYSTEM;

EID: 79952444470     PISSN: 01679295     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1007/s11038-010-9358-z     Document Type: Article

References (63)

1. J. Annis, An astrophysical explanation for the great silence. J. Br. Interplanet. Soc. 52, 19-22 (1999).
2. J. C. Armstrong, L. E. Wells, G. Gonzales, Rummaging through the Earth's attic for remains of ancient life. Icarus 160, 183-196 (2002).
3. D. R. Brilliant, I. A. Franchi, J. W. Arden, C. T. Pillinger, An interstellar component in the lunar regolith. Meteoritics 27, 206 (1992).
4. R. Bugiolacchi, P. D. Spudis, J. E. Guest, Stratigraphy and composition of lava flows in Mare Nubium and Mare Cognitum. Meteoritic. Planet. Sci. 41, 285-304 (2006).
5. S. V. M. Clube, W. M. Napier, Giant comets and the Galaxy: implications of the terrestrial record, in The Galaxy and the Solar System, ed. by R. Smoluchowski, J. N. Bahcall, M. S. Matthews (University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 1986), pp. 260-285.
6. I. A. Crawford, The astrobiological case for renewed robotic and human exploration of the Moon. Int. J. Astrobiol. 5, 191-199 (2006).
7. I. A. Crawford, S. A. Fagents, K. H. Joy, Full Moon exploration: exploring the basaltic lava flows of Oceanus Procellarum - valuable (non-polar) lunar science facilitated by a return to the Moon. Astron. Geophys. 48, 3. 18-3. 21 (2007).
8. I. A. Crawford, E. C. Baldwin, E. A. Taylor, J. A. Bailey, K. Tsembelis, On the survivability and detectability of terrestrial meteorites on the Moon. Astrobiology 8, 242-252 (2008).
9. I. A. Crawford, K. H. Joy, S. A. Fagents, M. E. Rumpf, The importance of lunar palaeoregolith deposits and the role of Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Science Targeting Meeting, Tempe, Arizona, LPI Contribution No. 1483, p. 29 (2009).
10. G. Crozaz, G. Poupeau, R. M. Walker, E. Zinner, D. A. Morrison, The record of solar and galactic radiations in the ancient lunar regolith and their implications for the early history of the Sun and Moon. Phil. Trans. Royal Soc. A285, 587-592 (1977).
11. L. Dartnell, Ionising radiation and life. Astrobiology (in press, 2010).
12. O. Eugster, Cosmic-ray exposure ages of meteorites and lunar rocks and their significance. Chemie der Erde 63, 3-30 (2003).
13. S. A. Fagents, M. E. Rumpf, I. A. Crawford, K. H. Joy, Preservation potential of implanted solar wind volatiles in lunar paleoregolith deposits buried by lava flows. Icarus 207, 595-604 (2010).
14. F. Ferrari, E. Szuszkiewicz, Cosmic rays: a review for astrobiologists. Astrobiology 9, 413-436 (2009).
15. P. C. Frisch, M. Bzowski, E. Grün, V. Izmodenov, H. Krüger, J. L. Linsky, D. J. McComas, E. Möbius, S. Redfield, N. Schwadron, R. Shelton, J. D. Slavin, B. E. Wood, The galactic environment of the Sun: interstellar material inside and outside of the heliosphere. Space Sci. Rev. 146, 235-273 (2009).
16. N. Gehrels, C. M. Laird, C. H. Jackman, J. K. Cannizzo, B. J. Mattson, W. Chen, Ozone depletion from nearby supernovae. Astrophys. J. 585, 1169-1176 (2003).
17. D. R. Gies, J. W. Helsel, Ice age epochs and the Sun's path through the Galaxy. Astrophys. J. 626, 844-848 (2005).
18. J. N. Goswami, Interactions of energetic particles and dust grains with asteroidal surfaces. Earth Planets Space 53, 1029-1037 (2001).
19. J. L. Gutiérrez, Terrane meteorites on the Moon: relevance for the study of the origin of life in the Earth. Proceedings of the Second European Workshop on Exo/Astrobiology, ESA SP-518, 187-191 (2002).
20. T. Hackwill, Stratigraphy, evolution, and volume of basalts in Mare Serenitatis. Meteorit. Planet. Sci. 45, 210-219 (2010).
21. E. Heggy, T. Fong, D. A. Kring, M. Deans, A. Anglade, K. Mahiouz, M. Bualat, P. Lee, F. Horz, W. Bluethmann, Potential of probing the lunar regolith using rover-mounted ground penetrating radar: Moses Lake dune field analog study. 40th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, 2183 (2009).
22. H. Hiesinger, J. W. Head, U. Wolf, R. Jaumann, G. Neukum, Ages and stratigraphy of mare basalts in Oceanus Procellarum, Mare Nubium, Mare Cognitum, and Mare Insularum. J. Geophys. Res. 108(E7), 5065 (2003).
23. F. Horz, R. Grieve, G. H. Heiken, P. D. Spudis, A. Binder, Lunar surface processes, in The Lunar Sourcbook, ed. by G. H. Heiken, D. T. Vaniman, B. M. French (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1991), pp. 61-120.
24. B. L. Jolliff, R. L. Korotev, N. L. Haskin, A., An iridium-rich iron micrometeorite with silicate inclusions from the Moon. 24th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, 729 (1993).
25. J. F. Kerridge, P. Signer, R. Wieler, R. H. Becker, R. O. Pepin, Long-term changes in composition of solar particles implanted in extraterrestrial materials, in The Sun in Time, ed. by C. P. Sonett, M. S. Giampapa, M. S. Matthews (University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 1991), pp. 98-117.
26. J. Kirby, K. S. Carslaw, Variations of galactic cosmic rays and the Earth's climate, in Solar Journey: The Significance of our Galactic Environment for the Heliosphere and Earth, ed. by P. C. Frisch (Springer, Dordrecht, 2006), pp. 349-397.
27. E. M. Leitch, G. Vasisht, Mass extinctions and the sun's encounters with spiral arms. New Astron. 3, 51-56 (1998).
28. P. G. Lucey, et al., Understanding the lunar surface and space-Moon interaction. In New Views of the Moon, Rev. Min. Geochem. 60, 82-219 (2006).
29. J. J. Matese, P. G. Whitman, K. A. Innanen, M. J. Valtonen, Periodic modulation of the Oort cloud comet flux by the adiabatically changing galactic tide. Icarus 116, 255-268 (1995).
30. D. McKay, G. Heiken, A. Basu, G. Blanford, S. Simon, R. Reedy, B. French, J. Papike, The lunar regolith, in The Lunar Sourcebook, ed. by G. Heiken, D. Vaniman, B. French (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1991), pp. 285-356.
31. H. Y. McSween, A new type of chondritic meteorite found in lunar soil. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 31, 193-199 (1976).
32. M. V. Medvedev, A. L. Melott, Do extragalactic cosmic rays induce cycles in fossil diversity? Astrophys. J. 664, 879-889 (2007).
33. H. J. Melosh, Exchange of meteorites (and life?) between stellar systems. Astrobiology 3, 207-215 (2003).
34. W. M. Napier, Pollination of exoplanets by nebulae. Int. J. Astrobiol. 6, 223-228 (2007).
35. T. Ono et al., Lunar Radar Sounder observations of subsurface layers under the nearside maria of the Moon. Science 323, 90-92 (2009).
36. M. Ozima, K. Seki, N. Terada, Y. N. Miura, F. A. Podosek, M. Shinagawa, Terrestrial nitrogen and noble gases in lunar soils. Nature 436, 655-659 (2005).
37. M. Ozima, Q.-Z. Yin, F. A. Podosek, Y. N. Miura, Toward prescription for approach from terrestrial noble gas and light element records in lunar soils understanding early Earth evolution. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 105, 17654-17658 (2008).
38. A. A. Pavlov, O. B. Toon, A. K. Pavlov, J. Bally, D. Pollard, Passing through a giant molecular cloud: snowball glaciations produced by interstellar dust. Geophys. Res. Lett. 32, L03705-L03708 (2005).
39. S. Rahmstorf, D. Archer, D. S. Ebel, O. Eugster, J. Jouzel, D. Maraun, U. Neu, G. A. Schmidt, J. Severinghaus, A. J. Weaver, J. Zachos, Cosmic rays carbon dioxide, and climate. Eos 85, 38-41 (2004).
40. M. S. Robinson et al., Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) Instrument Overview. Space Sci. Rev. 150, 81-124 (2010).
41. R. A. Rohde, R. A. Muller, Cycles in fossil diversity. Nature 434, 208-210 (2005).
42. A. E. Rubin, The Hadley Rille enstatite chondrite and its agglutinate-like rim: impact melting during accretion to the Moon. Meteorit. Planet. Sci 32, 135-141 (1997).
43. J. Scalo, J. C. Wheeler, Astrophysical and astrobiological implications of gamma-ray burst properties. Astrophys. J. 566, 723-737 (2002).
44. K. Scherer et al., Interstellar-terrestrial relations: variable cosmic environments, the dynamic heliosphere, and their imprints on terrestrial archives and climate. Space Sci. Rev. 127, 327-465 (2006).
45. N. Z. Scoville, D. B. Sanders, Observational constraints on the interaction of giant molecular clouds with the solar system, in The Galaxy and the Solar System, ed. by R. Smoluchowski, J. N. Bahcall, M. S. Matthews (University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 1986), pp. 69-82.
46. N. J. Shaviv, The spiral structure of the Milky Way, cosmic rays, and ice age epochs on Earth. New Astron. 8, 39-77 (2003).
47. N. J. Shaviv, Long-term variations in the galactic environment of the Sun, in Solar Journey: The Significance of our Galactic Environment for the Heliosphere and Earth, ed. by P. C. Frisch (Springer, Dordrecht, 2006), pp. 99-131.
48. D. S. Smith, J. M. Scalo, Habitable zones exposed: astrosphere collapse frequency as a function of stellar mass. Astrobiology 9, 673-681 (2009).
49. P. D. Spudis, The Once and Future Moon (Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC, 1996), p. 308.
50. D. Stöffler, G. Ryder, B. A. Ivanov, N. A. Artemieva, M. J. Cintala, R. A. F. Grieve, Cratering History and Lunar Chronology. In New Views of the Moon, Rev. Min. Geochem. 60, 519-596 (2006).
51. R. B. Stothers, Galactic disc dark matter, terrestrial impact cratering and the law of large numbers. Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 300, 1098-1104 (1998).
52. R. J. Talbot, M. J. Newman, Encounters between stars and dense interstellar clouds. Astrophys. J. Suppl. 34, 295-308 (1977).
53. B. C. Thomas, Gamma-ray bursts as a threat to life on Earth. Int. J. Astrobiol. 8, 183-186 (2009).
54. S. E. Thorsett, Terrestrial implications of cosmological gamma-ray burst models. Astrophys. J. 444, L53-L55 (1995).
55. M. V. Torbett, Dynamical influence of galactic tides and molecular clouds on the Oort cloud of comets, in The Galaxy and the Solar System, ed. by R. Smoluchowski, J. N. Bahcall, M. S. Matthews (University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 1986), pp. 147-172.
56. D. Vaniman, R. Reedy, G. Heiken, G. Olhoeft, W. Mendell, The lunar environment, in The Lunar Sourcebook, ed. by G. Heiken, D. Vaniman, B. French (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1991), pp. 27-60.
57. S. Z. Weider, I. A. Crawford, K. H. Joy, Individual lava flow thicknesses in Oceanus Procellarum and Mare Serenitatis determined from Clementine multi-spectral data. Icarus (2010). doi: 10. 1016/j. icarus. 2010. 05. 010.
58. R. Wieler, K. Kehm, A. P. Meshik, C. M. Hohenberg, Secular changes in the xenon and krypton abundances in the solar wind recorded in single lunar grains. Nature 384, 46-49 (1996).
59. R. Wieler, A. Grimberg, V. S. Heber, What are the consequences if the "SEP" solar noble gas component does not exist? Meteorit. Planet. Sci. 41, A188 (2006).
60. R. F. Wimmer-Schweingruber, P. Bochsler, Lunar soils: a long-term archive for the galactic environment of the heliosphere? AIP Conf. Proc. 598, 399-404 (2001).
61. S. Yabushita, A. J. Allen, On the effect of accreted interstellar matter on the terrestrial environment. Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 238, 1465-1478 (1989).
62. A. Yeghikyan, H. Fahr, Accretion of interstellar material into the heliosphere and onto Earth, in Solar Journey: The Significance of our Galactic Environment for the Heliosphere and Earth, ed. by P. C. Frisch (Springer, Dordrecht, 2006), pp. 317-348.
63. K. Zacny, Y. Bar-Cohen, M. Brennan, G. Briggs, G. Cooper, K. Davis, B. Dolgin, D. Glaser, B. Glass, S. Gorevan, J. Guerrero, C. McKay, G. Paulsen, S. Stanley, C. Stoker, Drilling systems for extraterrestrial subsurface exploration. Astrobiology 8, 665-706 (2008).