Meter‐Scale Roughness of the Lunar Surface

Abstract Small‐scale surface roughness is a key indicator of local geological processes, yet it has not previously been mapped globally on the Moon. We present global meter‐scale surface roughness maps generated from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter pulses, which record information about surface undulations within the instrument's ∼5 m individual footprint. Our mapping reveals signatures of recent surface modification, including rough Copernican‐aged impact craters, and steep crater walls consistent with active mass wasting. At the poles, permanently shadowed regions are smoother than nearby sunlit areas, consistent with possible near‐surface ice, and Artemis III candidate landing regions exhibit diverse roughness conditions. These maps complement existing longer‐baseline roughness products, provide constraints for interpreting radar remote sensing observations, capture topographic variability at spatial scales relevant to surface missions, and reveal recent modification of the lunar surface.