Abu Dhabi-28 November 2024: The Technology Innovation Institute (TII), a leading global scientific research center and the applied research pillar of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), is proud to announce that the research paper, “Unveiling Magmatic Structures and Connectivity Beneath the Lunar Oceanus Procellarum Region from GRAIL Gravity Data,” co-authored by TII researchers and international experts, has been officially accepted for publication in the prestigious journal Nature Communications.
This research, led by the TII team, uncovers hidden magmatic pathways beneath the Moon’s Oceanus Procellarum region, which once transported magma during ancient magmatic activity. Using advanced gravity mapping from the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission, the team unveils a complex magmatic architecture beneath the Procellarum Oceanus region, indicating various volcanic systems could be connected by horizontal magmatic conduits, known as sills, stretching up to 150 kilometers beneath the lunar surface.
This discovery offers the first evidence of long-distance lateral magma transport on the Moon. Previously, lunar magmatic processes were thought to predominantly involve the vertical ascent of magma through dykes originating in deep mantle sources.
This research provides a transformative perspective on lunar magmatism, deepening our understanding of the dynamic processes. Representing the combined efforts of TII researchers and external experts, it enhances the understanding of volcanic processes on the Moon and solidifies TII’s position in space and planetary sciences. It also paves the way for partnerships with global space exploration agencies, fostering further advancements in lunar and planetary research.
TII would like to thank Nature Communications for recognizing the significance of this work. To read the full paper, visit this link at Nature Communications.
