SHARAD detection and characterization of subsurface water ice deposits in Utopia Planitia, Mars

C. M. Stuurman; G. R. Osinski; J. W. Holt; J. S. Levy; T. C. Brothers; M. Kerrigan; B. A. Campbell

doi:10.1002/2016GL070138

SHARAD detection and characterization of subsurface water ice deposits in Utopia Planitia, Mars

C. M. Stuurman, G. R. Osinski, J. W. Holt, J. S. Levy, T. C. Brothers, M. Kerrigan, B. A. Campbell

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

140 Scopus citations

Abstract

Morphological analyses of Utopia Planitia, Mars, have led to the hypothesis that the region contains a substantial amount of near-surface ice. This paper tests this hypothesis using ground-penetrating radar techniques. We have identified an expansive radar reflective region spanning approximately 375,000 km² in SHAllow RADar (SHARAD) data over western Utopia Planitia. The SHARAD reflective regions coincides with high densities of scalloped depressions and polygonal terrain. The reflectors are associated with layered mesas ∼80–170 m thick. We find a value of 2.8 ± 0.8 for the dielectric constant of the material overlying the reflectors. This work finds that the dielectric constant is consistent with a mixture of ice, air, and dust, containing a water ice volume up to 14,300 km³ in this unit.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	9484-9491
Number of pages	8
Journal	Geophysical Research Letters
Volume	43
Issue number	18
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL070138
State	Published - Sep 28 2016
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Mars
SHARAD
Utopia Planitia
excess ice
radar
remote sensing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geophysics
General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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10.1002/2016GL070138

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title = "SHARAD detection and characterization of subsurface water ice deposits in Utopia Planitia, Mars",

abstract = "Morphological analyses of Utopia Planitia, Mars, have led to the hypothesis that the region contains a substantial amount of near-surface ice. This paper tests this hypothesis using ground-penetrating radar techniques. We have identified an expansive radar reflective region spanning approximately 375,000 km2 in SHAllow RADar (SHARAD) data over western Utopia Planitia. The SHARAD reflective regions coincides with high densities of scalloped depressions and polygonal terrain. The reflectors are associated with layered mesas ∼80–170 m thick. We find a value of 2.8 ± 0.8 for the dielectric constant of the material overlying the reflectors. This work finds that the dielectric constant is consistent with a mixture of ice, air, and dust, containing a water ice volume up to 14,300 km3 in this unit.",

keywords = "Mars, SHARAD, Utopia Planitia, excess ice, radar, remote sensing",

author = "Stuurman, {C. M.} and Osinski, {G. R.} and Holt, {J. W.} and Levy, {J. S.} and Brothers, {T. C.} and M. Kerrigan and Campbell, {B. A.}",

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AU - Stuurman, C. M.

AU - Osinski, G. R.

AU - Holt, J. W.

AU - Levy, J. S.

AU - Brothers, T. C.

AU - Kerrigan, M.

AU - Campbell, B. A.

PY - 2016/9/28

Y1 - 2016/9/28

N2 - Morphological analyses of Utopia Planitia, Mars, have led to the hypothesis that the region contains a substantial amount of near-surface ice. This paper tests this hypothesis using ground-penetrating radar techniques. We have identified an expansive radar reflective region spanning approximately 375,000 km2 in SHAllow RADar (SHARAD) data over western Utopia Planitia. The SHARAD reflective regions coincides with high densities of scalloped depressions and polygonal terrain. The reflectors are associated with layered mesas ∼80–170 m thick. We find a value of 2.8 ± 0.8 for the dielectric constant of the material overlying the reflectors. This work finds that the dielectric constant is consistent with a mixture of ice, air, and dust, containing a water ice volume up to 14,300 km3 in this unit.

AB - Morphological analyses of Utopia Planitia, Mars, have led to the hypothesis that the region contains a substantial amount of near-surface ice. This paper tests this hypothesis using ground-penetrating radar techniques. We have identified an expansive radar reflective region spanning approximately 375,000 km2 in SHAllow RADar (SHARAD) data over western Utopia Planitia. The SHARAD reflective regions coincides with high densities of scalloped depressions and polygonal terrain. The reflectors are associated with layered mesas ∼80–170 m thick. We find a value of 2.8 ± 0.8 for the dielectric constant of the material overlying the reflectors. This work finds that the dielectric constant is consistent with a mixture of ice, air, and dust, containing a water ice volume up to 14,300 km3 in this unit.

KW - Mars

KW - SHARAD

KW - Utopia Planitia

KW - excess ice

KW - radar

KW - remote sensing

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SHARAD detection and characterization of subsurface water ice deposits in Utopia Planitia, Mars

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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