Hydrodynamical simulations of proto-Moon degassing

TL;DR

This study uses 2D hydrodynamic simulations to explore how tidal forces and magma ocean dynamics led to volatile depletion on the early Moon, aligning with observed Na and K abundances and revealing a leading-trailing side dichotomy.

Contribution

It introduces a 2D time-dependent hydrodynamic model of lunar devolatilization, improving upon previous steady-state approaches and providing new insights into volatile loss mechanisms.

Findings

Devolatilization consistent with observed Na and K depletion at 1800-2000 K surface temperatures.

Formation of a crust after 1000 years inhibits further volatile escape.

Volatile re-accretion shows a leading-trailing side asymmetry influenced by tidal conditions.

Abstract

Similarities in the non-mass dependent isotopic composition of refractory elements with the bulk silicate Earth suggest that both the Earth and the Moon formed from the same material reservoir. On the other hand, the Moon's volatile depletion and isotopic composition of moderately volatile elements points to a global devolatilization processes, most likely during a magma ocean phase of the Moon. Here, we investigate the devolatilisation of the molten Moon due to a tidally-assisted hydrodynamic escape with a focus on the dynamics of the evaporated gas. Unlike the 1D steady-state approach of Charnoz et al. (2021), we use 2D time-dependent hydrodynamic simulations carried out with the FARGOCA code modified to take into account the magma ocean as a gas source. Near the Earth's Roche limit, where the proto-Moon likely formed, evaporated gases from the lunar magma ocean form a circum-Earth disk of volatiles, with less than 30% of material being re-accreted by the Moon. We find that the measured depletion of K and Na on the Moon can be achieved if the lunar magma-ocean had a surface temperature of about 1800-2000 K. After about 1000 years, a thermal boundary layer or a flotation crust forms a lid that inhibits volatile escape. Mapping the volatile velocity field reveals varying trends in the longitudes of volatile reaccretion on the Moon's surface: material is predominantly re-accreted on the trailing side when the Moon-Earth distance exceeds 3.5 Earth radii, suggesting a dichotomy in volatile abundances between the leading and trailing sides of the Moon. This dichotomy may provide insights on the tidal conditions of the early molten Earth. In conclusion, tidally-driven atmospheric escape effectively devolatilizes the Moon, matching the measured abundances of Na and K on timescales compatible with the formation of a thermal boundary layer or an anorthite flotation crust.