The Objects > Lunar Science

What causes erosion on the moon?

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Darrin Cardani:
Going through the classifications, I sometimes see really old craters that look like they've been worn down over time. On earth, something like that would probably be caused by wind erosion, or water erosion. But what causes it on the moon?

And is it the same thing that causes boulders to roll and make tracks?

Geoff:
I'm not sure myself but think erosion would be caused by micro-meteorites and the solar wind.

Rolling boulders could be ejected during an impact event when a new crater is formed and also boulders sitting on the edge of a crater could be loosened and roll down the slopes due to "moon quakes" caused by nearby impacts.

jules:
It is tempting to think of erosion by wind or water when looking at some lunar features but we have to think differently in terms of volcanic action and meteorites as Geoff says. I think it is the case that the Moon suffered such a bombardment of meteorites that the regolith was constantly being churned up and thrown out covering older craters. 

Thomas J:
Welcome to the Moon Zoo forum Darin. I agree with Geoff and Jules, the Moon has no lquid water or atmosphere so erosion is an extremely slow process. The constant bombardment of micro-meteroids is the main cause along with other geological effects such as volcanism and larger impacts.

Geoff:
I guess there's also the heating/cooling cycle where rocks are heated up during daylight and cool down at night which causes stress fractures and eventually the break up of the rock as it splits.

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