title: Formation of lunar swirls by magnetic field standoff of the solar wind.
abstract: Lunar swirls are high-albedo markings on the Moon that occur in both mare and highland terrains; their origin remains a point of contention. Here, we use data from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Diviner Lunar Radiometer to support the hypothesis that the swirls are formed as a result of deflection of the solar wind by local magnetic fields. Thermal infrared data from this instrument display an anomaly in the position of the silicate Christiansen Feature consistent with reduced space weathering. These data also show that swirl regions are not thermophysically anomalous, which strongly constrains their formation mechanism. The results of this study indicate that either solar wind sputtering and implantation are more important than micrometeoroid bombardment in the space-weathering process, or that micrometeoroid bombardment is a necessary but not sufficient process in space weathering, which occurs on airless bodies throughout the solar system.
authors: Department of Geosciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794-2100, USA.
authors: Timothy D
authors: TD
authors: Glotch
authors: Space Science Institute, 4750 Walnut St #205, Boulder, Colorado 80301, USA.
authors: Joshua L
authors: JL
authors: Bandfield
authors: Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA.
authors: Paul G
authors: PG
authors: Lucey
authors: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, M/S 183-301, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, California 91109, USA.
authors: Paul O
authors: PO
authors: Hayne
authors: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, M/S 183-301, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, California 91109, USA.
authors: Benjamin T
authors: BT
authors: Greenhagen
authors: Department of Geosciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794-2100, USA.
authors: Jessica A
authors: JA
authors: Arnold
authors: Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3B1.
authors: Rebecca R
authors: RR
authors: Ghent
authors: University of California Los Angeles, Box 951567, Los Angeles, California 90095-1567, USA.
authors: David A
authors: DA
authors: Paige