New insights from Chang'e-5 mission reveal Moon's ancient dynamo magnetic field
A recent analysis of samples collected by China's Chang'e-5 mission has unveiled that the Moon had a weak but active dynamo magnetic field approximately 2 billion years ago.
Understanding the characteristics of the lunar magnetic field is essential for deciphering the Moon's internal structure, thermal history, and surface environment.
Key Findings
Sample Analysis: Researchers from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics (IGG) analyzed 9 basalt samples returned from the Oceanus Procellarum region of the Moon. These samples provide a unique opportunity to investigate the Moon's magnetic history from 3 to 1 billion years ago.
Dynamo Magnetic Field: The study indicates that the Moon's magnetic field strength during this period was around 2 to 4 microteslas, which is less than 10%of Earth's current magnetic field strength. This suggests the presence of a protective magnetic shield that could have influenced the Moon's surface conditions.
Thermal Convection: Researchers propose that ongoing thermal convection within the Moon's deep interior may have contributed additional heat for volcanic activity before the complete disappearance of the magnetic field.
Magnetic Field Drivers: The study discusses potential processes driving the lunar magnetic field, including the crystallization of the lunar core, its wobble, and the descent of dense primordial materials.
A professor from Hong Kong Polytechnic University demonstrates the operation of Chang'e-5. (DotDotNews)
Additional Research Insights
The findings were published in the journal Science Advances and serve to fill a significant gap in our understanding of the Moon’s magnetic evolution. They highlight that the lunar dynamo may have lasted well into the Moon's middle years.
In a related study published in Nature, researchers reported an unexpected resurgence in the Moon's magnetic field strength 2.8 billion years ago, based on rock samples from the Moon's far side collected by the Chang'e-6 probe. This suggests that the Moon's magnetic field not only persisted into its midlife but might have also fluctuated during that time.
Recent Findings on Volcanic Activity
In November 2024, an IGG team identified two volcanic events on the Moon's far side, occurring 2.8 billion years ago and 4.2 billion years ago. The Chang'e-6 mission returned 1,935.3 grams of lunar samples, while the Chang'e-5 mission returned 1,731 grams of samples, primarily from the lunar surface.
These studies collectively enrich our understanding of the Moon's geological history and its magnetic field's dynamics, paving the way for future lunar research.
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