Investigation of the daytime lunar atmosphere for lunar sybnthesis program. Semiannual status report, 1 Oct 1974--31 Mar 1976

Synthesis studies of the daytime lunar atmosphere were directed toward improved understanding of fundamental lunar atmospheric dynamics and the relationship of the detectable atmosphere to physical processes of the lunar surface and interior. The primary source of data is the Apollo 17 lunar surface mass spectrometer. The 40Ar is radiogenic, and its escape rate from the lunar atmosphere requires release of a significant fraction (about 8%) of the argon produced from the decay of 40K within the moon. Furthermore, the process of argon release from the solid moon is time varying and related to seismic activity. Most of the helium on the moon is due to release of implanted solar wind alpha particles from the regolith