Global mapping of lunar surface water and hydroxyl in context

The presence of water hydrating the Moon’s regolith is now well established, with an observed maximum abundance in the polar regions and near the terminator at all latitudes, reducing to a minimum near surface temperature maximum at equatorial noon. The next major step forward will be to determine the distribution of neutral water and hydroxyl radicals (total water) on the Moon, to understand its variability with time and location, to quantify its abundance, and to determine its resupply mechanisms, if any. Of particular interest is identifying the mineral context of regolith hosting water and determining which mineral resources, if any, may also be superior water resources. We describe the value of a global mapping campaign to achieve these goals with suitable instrumentation to detect and distinguish between neutral water and hydroxyl in surface mineral hydrates. Future targeted measurements at high spatial resolution can be fit into the context of global processes.