NASA NTRS · 19770051977
Revised lunar heat-flow values
Abstract
The 3.5- and 2-year subsurface temperature histories at the Apollo 15 and 17 heat-flow sites have been analyzed, and the results yield significantly lower thermal conductivity determinations than the results of previous short-term experiments. The thermal conductivity determined by probes at a depth of about 150 cm and 250 cm lies in the range 0.9-1.3 times 10 to the -4th W/cm K. On the basis of measurements of variations of surface thorium abundance and inferred crustal thicknesses, the average global heat flux is estimated to be about 1.8 microwatts/sq cm. This requires a uranium concentration of 46 ppb.
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Langseth, M. G., Keihm, S. J., Peters, K.. 1976-01-01. Revised lunar heat-flow values. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19770051977
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