EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Heggy et al. 2003
Heggy, E., Paillou, P., Costard, F., Mangold, N., Ruffie, G., Demontoux, F., Grandjean, G. and Malézieux, J.M. (2003). Local geoelectrical models of the Martian subsurface for shallow groundwater detection using sounding radars. Journal of Geophysical Research 108. doi: 10.1029/2002JE001871. issn: 0148-0227.

Low-frequency sounding radars should be able to probe the Martian subsurface layers down to varying depths, depending on the geoelectrical properties of the sounded sites. We present in this work four frequency-dependent geoelectrical models of the Martian subsurface in the 1--20 MHz frequency band, based on laboratory electromagnetic characterization of Martian soil analogues. Those models correspond to local Martian sites that we considered to be of particular interest in the search for water using mainly the Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) instrument of the Netlander mission. Results and discussion are also valid for both sounding experiments MARSIS and SHARAD. The four models of the Martian subsurface are designed to represent terrains where recent fluvial-like features suggest the presence of near-subsurface ground ice and probably liquid water. We performed measurements on volcanic and sedimentary materials that may be present on these sites under the appropriate geophysical conditions that may exist in those terrains. We then simulated the backscattered radar echo arising from each site in the 2 MHz frequency band, using the Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) algorithm, in order to evaluate the instrument performances to probe the subsurface stratigraphy of each site. Our results confirm that the near-subsurface rich iron oxide mineralogy controls the instrument performances in terms of penetration depth and signal-to-noise ratio in the 2 MHz frequency band. We finally discuss the geophysical and geoelectrical sounding conditions that could lead to an ambiguous detection of shallow subsurface water on Mars for the Netlander GPR.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Mathematical Geophysics, Modeling, History of Geophysics, Instruments and techniques, Physical Properties of Rocks, Wave attenuation, Physical Properties of Rocks, Magnetic and electrical properties
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit