There are indications of the presence of water in the form of ice on the Moon, but the quantity and origin of this ice are still undetermined. It could come from the lunar volcanic activity which was important more than 2 billion years ago.
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder, published in The Planetary Science Journaland relayed on May 27, 2022 by ScienceAlertsuggests that the appearance of ice sheets at the poles of the moon would be linked to volcanoes.
A series ofvolcanic eruptions erupted on the Moon 2 billion years ago, covering hundreds of thousands of square kilometers of the lunar surface under lava. Over time, this lava created the dark, gray flecks that gave the Moon its familiar appearance today. The researchers estimate that these same volcanoes would have contributed to the appearance of gigantic sheets of ice on the Moon.
In 2020, NASA had already announced definitive proof of its presence on the Moon. We know it is there, but questions remain as to where, how much, where and how to reach it. There could be thick layers of ice nestled in the craters, hidden under the lunar floor. This water could be used to make fuel for rockets, robotic or human explorers could even confirm this hypothesis.
Lunar volcanoes that would have spewed water
Researchers from the University of Colorado believe in their study that volcanic ice once formed on the Moon could still exist. The Earth is not the only rocky body in the solar system where significant volcanic activity has occurred in the past. This is also the case of the Moon during its first two billion years, as already shown by the basaltic basins of the lunar seas, but also by the photographs of its surface.
Over time, the lava cooled there and created the dark formations we see today. The authors worked with simulations to recreate conditions on the Moon in the past. However, they discovered that the ancient lunar volcanoes spewed large quantities of water vapor, which formed ice reserves by settling on the surface. The group estimated that up to 41% of this water may have condensed, formed ice, and been hidden in lunar craters. “ It is possible that 5 or 10 meters below the surface there are large patches of ice “says on this subject Paul Hayne, co-author of the study, in The Planetary Science Journal.
« We really have to dig and look for that ice,” said Andrew Wilcoski, the lead author of the study. Exactly, the Viper polar exploration rover (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) from NASA, scheduled for launch in 2023, will be tasked with searching for ice deposits on the South Pole of the Moon. This should provide researchers with new data they can use to understand the history of water and ice on the Moon.