Redistribution of Lunar Polar Water to Mid-latitudes and Its Role in Forming an OH Veneer

Abstract

We suggest that energization processes like ion sputtering and impact vaporization can eject/release polar water molecules residing within cold trapped regions with sufficient velocity to allow their redistribution to mid-latitudes. We consider the possibility that these polar-ejected molecules can contribution to the water/OH veneer observed as a 3 micrometer IR absorption feature at mid-latitudes by Chandrayaan-1, Cassini, and EPOXI. We find this source cannot fully account for the observed IR feature, but could be a low intensity additional source