The gross structure of the moon may be determined from natural seismic events, supplemented by artificial impacts at close ranges. The moon has a rigid mantle below a layered crust. At a depth of 500-850 km there is a decrease in S-velocity and an increase in attenuation; the preferred depth for this change is 600 km. The simultaneous occurrence of these phenomena indicates a small amount of melt below this depth. Deep focus moonquakes lie below the decrease in S-velocity at depths of about 650-950 km. Good estimates of the depth of shallow focus moonquakes are not available, but they may be releasing tectonic stress.
Natural lunar seismic events and the structure of the moon
Lunar Science Conference ; 1975 ; Houston, TX
1975-01-01
Miscellaneous
No indication
English
Lunar Orbiter Simple Moon Residuals
NTIS | 1968
|Lunar seismology - The internal structure of the moon
NTRS | 1981
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