Inversion of dielectric constant of Mars south polar region using the MARSIS data

Abstract

Radar sounder technology had been applied to Mars explorations, such as MARSIS (Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding) in 2003 and SHARAD (SHAllow RADar) in 2005. China is also planning to launch the Mars program in the future. To investigate the radar echoes from Mars layered media, we have developed numerical simulation of radar range echoes at 1-50 MHz from Mars rough surface/subsurface model. Furthermore, we developed the parameter inversions of Mars layered media. As an example to validate these approaches, we collect 34 orbits MARSIS data to invert the dielectric constant of surface regolith around the region of Mars south pole. The result well shows the SPLD (south polar layered deposits) with water ice and high dielectric constant of other places.