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Palus Somni: Anomalies in the correlation of Al/Si X‐ray fluorescence intensity ratios and broad‐spectrum visible albebos
Author(s) -
Clark P. E.,
Andre C. G.,
Adler I.,
Podwysocki M.,
Weidner J.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl003i008p00421
Subject(s) - standard deviation , albedo (alchemy) , linear regression , line (geometry) , intensity (physics) , visible spectrum , physics , analytical chemistry (journal) , astrophysics , optics , chemistry , mathematics , statistics , geometry , art , chromatography , performance art , art history
The positive correlation between Al/Si X‐ray fluorescence intensity ratios determined during the Apollo 15 lunar mission and a broad‐spectrum visible albedo of the moon is quantitatively established. Linear regression analysis performed on 246 1° geographic cells of X‐ray fluorescence intensity and visible albedo data points produced a statistically significant correlation coefficient of .78. Three distinct distributions of data were identified as 1) within one standard deviation of the regression line, 2) greater than one standard deviation below the line, and 3) greater than one standard deviation above above the line. The latter two distributions of data were found to occupy distinct geographic areas in the Palus Somni region. It is proposed that dark material deposited southwest of Palus Somni probably caused the anomalous distribution of data greater than one standard deviation below the regression line, and that bright material recently deposited northeast of Palus Somni probably caused the distribution of data greater than one standard deviation above the regression line.