HR: 0800h
AN: P31C-0209    [Abstracts]
TI: Field Testing the STRATA Ground Penetrating Radar for Mars
AU: * Williams, K K
EM: williamskk@si.edu
AF: Center for Earth and Planetary Studies, MRC 315 PO Box 37012, Washington, DC 20013-7012 United States
AU: Grant, J A
EM: grantj@si.edu
AF: Center for Earth and Planetary Studies, MRC 315 PO Box 37012, Washington, DC 20013-7012 United States
AU: Leuschen, C J
EM: Carl.Leuschen@jhuapl.edu
AF: Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD 20723 United States
AU: Schutz, A E
EM: Alan.S@geophysical.com
AF: Geophysical Survey Systems Inc, 13 Klein Drive, North Salem, NH 03073 United States
AB: With the MARSIS and SHARAD orbital radar sounders now in operation at and in transit to Mars, respectively, radar investigation of the deep structure of Mars down to several kilometers is underway. By contrast, optical and thermal instruments both in orbit and on the surface have provided information about the top several millimeters and the Mars Exploration Rovers have dug to several cm with their wheels. Nevertheless, little is known about the shallow subsurface of Mars to depths of meters except at locations where continuation of outcrop into the subsurface can be extrapolated. As the methods for exploring Mars evolve, the utility of ground penetrating radar (GPR) for investigating the shallow subsurface of that planet is being considered. GPR has been used for several decades on Earth as a non-invasive tool for studying subsurface structures and stratigraphy for applications in geology, engineering, and archaeology. The STRATA GPR for Mars has been developed as an adaptable, low power, compact, rover-mounted instrument capable of penetrating 10-20 m to reveal subsurface information. Field-testing of this instrument has taken place in volcanic, cratered, permafrost, and deltaic settings, and data collected at 400 MHz possess vertical resolutions of a few cm, sufficient to interpret the subsurface geologic setting. Results from the permafrost environment showed detection of buried massive ground ice as well as the base of the active layer. GPR analysis of this ice distribution was confirmed by resistivity measurements. The fine vertical resolution and good penetration in a variety of geologic settings show that the STRATA instrument provides data quality indistinguishable from commercial systems used on Earth. Most recently, the STRATA instrument has been tested in aeolian and filled crater environments. Data were collected over a sand dune overlying a basalt lava flow near St. Anthony, ID, and at the Campo del Cielo impact crater field in Chaco Province, Argentina. These results continue to demonstrate the high quality of data produced by the STRATA GPR as it is tested in a variety terrains similar to those that could be investigated on Mars with a GPR.
DE: 5422 Ices
DE: 5464 Remote sensing
DE: 5494 Instruments and techniques
DE: 6225 Mars
SC: Planetary Sciences [P]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005