Analysis of Subsurface Hypotheses through Simulation of Rime Radargrams Based on Available Analogous Data

Abstract

Radar for Icy Moon Exploration (RIME) is designed to characterize the subsurface geology of the Jovian icy moons. The RIME radargrams will show the combined response of a number of geophysical and geological characteristics of the ice-shells of these moons. Thus, radar sounder simulations are needed to understand the relationship between these target variables and the RIME response. In this paper, we use a computationally simple simulation approach that is based on reprocessing the radargrams available from the geological analogs of RIME targets. Moreover, we present a case study for a particular RIME target using this simulation technique for the generation of a database of RIME radar-grams, and a technique for analyzing this database. From the preliminary analysis of the simulated radargrams, we could derive important information regarding the underlying target variables. This confirms the usefulness of the presented approach to support the geological interpretation of the RIME radargrams.