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 exploration of the Martian subsurface because it is smaller and lighter than seismic instruments, and, due to the lack of water in the Martian rocks, has great penetration capability. The modelling of the GPR signal response has been performed by computing the dielectric properties of each simulated layer as a linear function of porosity, known values of the solids, and the nature of the material filling the voids (ice water, carbou dioxide ice, gas, liquid water). The synthetic response was computed by reflecting ray-tracing at various peak frequencies. The complex results show that reflections are due to variations in mineralogy, porosity and porc-filling material. The reflectors produced by the reflection of the electromagnetic waves provide a picture of the geometries of the layers of the subsurface and give elues 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 use of the GPR would be a major breakthrough in the reconstruction of the past geological history of the planet.