MARSIS surface reflectivity of the south residual cap of Mars

Jeremie Mouginot (1) , W. Kofman (1) , A. Safaeinili (2) , C. Grima (1) , A. Null Herique (1) , J.J. Plaut (2)

1 LPG - Laboratoire de Planétologie de Grenoble
2 JPL - Jet Propulsion Laboratory

The south residual cap of Mars is commonly described as a thin and bright layer of CO-ice. The Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding (MARSIS) is a low-frequency radar on board Mars Express operating at the wavelength between 55 and 230 m in vacuum. The reflection of the radar wave on a stratified medium like the residual cap can generate interferences, causing weaker surface reflections compared to reflections from a pure water ice surface.

Mots clés: Radar observations; Mars; Polar caps; Ices; Radar observations

Domaines: Planète et Univers [physics]

Jeremie Mouginot, W. Kofman, A. Safaeinili, C. Grima, A. Null Herique, et al.. MARSIS surface reflectivity of the south residual cap of Mars. Icarus, 2009, 201 (2), pp.454. ⟨10.1016/j.icarus.2009.01.009⟩. ⟨hal-00533497⟩