POTENTIALITY OF THE GROUND-PENETRATING RADAR FOR THE ANALYSIS OF THE STRATIGRAPHY AND SEDIMENTOLOGY OF MARS

The ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a good candidate for the explora tion of the Martian subsurface because it is smaller and lighter than seismic instruments, and, due to the lack of water in the Martian rock s, has great penetration capability. The modelling of the GPR signal r esponse has been performed by computing the dielectric properties of e ach simulated layer as a linear function of porosity, known values of the solids, and the nature of the material filling the voids (ice wate r, carbon dioxide ice, gas, liquid water). The synthetic response was computed by reflecting ray-tracing at various peak frequencies. The co mplex results show that reflections are due to variations in mineralog y, porosity and pore-filling material. The reflectors produced by the reflection of the electromagnetic waves provide a picture of the geome tries of the layers of the subsurface and give clues on the nature of rocks. Permafrost and liquid water can be investigated, chiefly their seasonal changes can be analysed by means of repeated profiles. The us e of the GPR would be a major breakthrough in the reconstruction of th e past geological history of the planet. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier S cience Ltd