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JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 108, NO. E4, 8035, doi:10.1029/2002JE001875, 2003

Simulation of a surface-penetrating radar for Mars exploration

Carl Leuschen

Applied Physics Laboratory, Johns Hopkins University, Laurel, Maryland, USA


Stephen Clifford

Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, Texas, USA


Prasad Gogineni

Radar Systems and Remote Sensing Laboratory, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA


Abstract

In the near future, several exploratory missions to Mars are planned, which will include orbital radar sounders capable of characterizing the planet's subsurface structure to depths of up to a few kilometers. Due to the limited amount of resources concerning the properties of the Martian soils, in particular, those governing electromagnetic propagation and scattering, the ability of a radar system to detect and distinguish between subsurface interfaces is difficult to predict. Up to this time, most radar sounding simulations have been based on simplified models and do not accurately account for many of the factors that influence the response. To aid in the system evaluation and data interpretation for these missions, we developed a radar simulator to accurately model the response for various geological conditions. The simulator uses a frequency domain algorithm and is capable of modeling the effects of dielectric layering, volume debris, frequency dispersion, ohmic losses, and interface roughness. In this paper a geophysical model appropriate to the radar simulator is described, and the simulation algorithms are presented in detail. Factors influencing wave propagation and scattering are identified, including those that directly impact radar performance, specifically pertaining to expected penetration depths and unambiguous detection of water or ice. Finally, using a set of “standard” crustal models of different geological regions, simulation results are generated and presented.

Published 20 March 2003.

Index Terms: 6225 Planetology: Solar System Objects: Mars; 0925 Exploration Geophysics: Magnetic and electrical methods; 0933 Exploration Geophysics: Remote sensing; 0689 Electromagnetics: Wave propagation (4275); 5430 Planetology: Solid Surface Planets: Interiors (8147).

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Citation: Leuschen, C., S. Clifford, and P. Gogineni (2003), Simulation of a surface-penetrating radar for Mars exploration, J. Geophys. Res., 108(E4), 8035, doi:10.1029/2002JE001875.