Simulation of radar sounder echoes and inversion for Mars layered media

Numerical simulation of radar sounder echoes from the Mars cratered surface and subsurface, and inversion of the Mars layered media, e.g. layering thickness and dielectric properties, are developed. Subsurface detection is utilized based on the nadir echoes time delay and intensity difference from the media interfaces. Based on the Kirchhoff approximation of rough surface scattering and the ray tracing of geometric optics, a numerical simulation of radar echoes from Mars layering structure is first developed. According to the Mars surface feature, the Mars topography is numerically generated, and the triangulated network is employed to make digital elevations of the whole surface. Scattering from the Mars surface and subsurface is numerically calculated, and the images of radar range echoes are then numerically simulated at 5-50 MHz, and their dependence on the parameters of Mars layering interfaces is discussed.