(1. Key Laboratory of Lunar and Deep Space Exploration, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100012, China;
2. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100037, China)

Abstract: Compared with other remote observations, brightness temperatures (TB) derived from microwave emission measurements provide a unique means to characterize the physical properties of the lunar surface. Using CE-2 Microwave Radiometer Data, we produced 12 lunar surface TB maps of a diurnal cycle with each local time ranging ~ 2 hours. There are two types of remarkable features on the TB maps, one of which is “hot regions” during lunar daytime and the other is nighttime “cold spots”. Compared with their surroundings, the “hot regions” are much warmer during lunar daytime and slightly colder during the lunar nighttime, while the “cold spots” are much colder during the lunar nighttime and slightly warmer during the daytime. Moreover, both of them have larger heating and cooling TB rates during the lunar daytime, especially during the periods after sunrise and before sunset. The “hot regions” have a good agreement with the Maria with extremely high TiO2 abundance and TB in the lunar Maria highly correlates with their TiO2 abundance. Most of the “cold spots” correspond with the very young craters and TB of the “cold spots” has a significant negative correlation with the lunar surface nighttime temperatures and rock abundances.

Keywords: cold spots; warm region; brightness temperature; Microwave Radiometer; Chang'E-2; Moon

Email: ychzhu@nao.cas.cn

ACTA MINERALOGICA SINICA Vol. 36, No. 2, 2016, Page 231-240