Search for shallow subsurface structures in Chryse and Acidalia
Planitiae on Mars
Abstract
We surveyed the subsurface structure of Chryse and Acidalia Planitiae
using data from the Mars SHAllow RADar sounder (SHARAD) onboard the Mars
Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). Several subsurface reflectors were
identified in these regions, but these reflectors do not constitute
apparent subsurface structures larger than 30 km. The bulk dielectric
constants of the uppermost layers at two locations were estimated as 5.3
and 5.9 from the combination of high-resolution images and topographic
data. These values were used to constrain the possible bulk porosity
(approximately 28 % and 25 %) and the upper limit for the volume
fraction of water ice (~43 % and ~50
%). The estimated porosities of the shallow subsurface layers in these
locations can be explained by the emplacement of basaltic rock or till
that may contain some ice-cemented regolith.