Moonquakes could reveal hidden water beneath the lunar surface
Hidden moon ice may reveal itself through the way it bends and reflects vibrations from moonquakes. The technique could help astronauts locate vital water supplies and uncover clues about the origins of Earth’s oceans.
Scientists are exploring the possibility of using moonquakes to detect and map hidden water ice beneath the lunar surface. Researchers from the University of Maryland, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the University of Hawaii discovered that seismic waves could provide valuable information about the distribution of ice deposits.
The study, published in Science Advances on July 31, 2026, highlights the importance of identifying resources on the moon for future human exploration. Water ice could serve as a source of drinking water, breathable oxygen, and rocket fuel for astronauts. While the exact amount and location of lunar ice remain unknown, the research suggests that seismic measurements could reveal deposits that are currently undetectable by orbiting satellites.
The presence of ice alters the properties of surrounding soil, causing seismic waves to travel faster or reflect differently. By analyzing these changes, scientists could estimate the amount of ice present. The study employed three methods to validate their findings: analyzing crushed volcanic rock similar to lunar dust, creating temperature models of the moon's south polar region, and simulating small moonquakes traveling through potential ice deposits.
The research indicates that future missions, such as China's Chang'e-7 and NASA's Artemis program, could deploy instruments to detect and map lunar ice deposits.
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