Keywords:lunar gravity field, GRAIL, volcanic activity
In western part of the Oceanus Procellarum of the lunar nearside, there are several large-scale volcanic complexes, in which volcanic geographycal features are highly concentrated. In this study, Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL)-derived lunar gravity field data is used to investigate the geophysical relevance of the major volcanic complexes in the region. One of our concerns is whether the volcanisms of these complexes are caused by common factors or not. We estimated Bouguer gravity anomaly in the region and investigated the directions of the linear structure of the anomalies. The result shows that there are linear mass anomalies, which connect the mass anomalies at the volocano complexes of Aristarchus Plateau, Marius Hills and Flamstead Basin. The observed linear structures lie inward of the large quasi-rectangular pattern revealed by Andrews-Hanna et al., and much shallower than the pattern. Considering that, the observed linear structures should have been created later than the quasi-rectangular outer structure. After the quasi-rectangular pattern was created, magma rose to the surface through the cracks. The observed linear structure is supposed to be created through cooling of the overflowed magma. The geological units, which the linear structures go through, are younger than that of the outer quasi-rectangular pattern. The linear cracks created by cooling are weaker than other locations. Therefore, magma probably rose easier than in other area. That may be why the three currently observed volcano complexes lie on the same linear structure.