Abstract

To explore a possible relationship between low FUV albedo swirl signatures and magnetic anomalies on the Moon, we are examining the modeled at-surface total field and vector components of select anomalies with respect to observations in the ultraviolet. UV wavelengths are extremely sensitive to space weathering and could indicate the presence of uneven weathering even at weak magnetic anomalies. Preliminary results are in agreement with previous work suggesting that swirls may be due to lessened weathering from solar wind deflection by their associated magnetic anomalies, as swirl regions with lower FUV values correlate with at-surface magnetic fields that are potentially capable of standing off some degree of solar wind. However, not all anomalies have magnetic field geometry that support this theory, implying other processes may be at play to create swirl-like morphology in these regions.