Arecibo radar observations of Mars surface characteristics in the northern hemisphere
Abstract
Mars surface characteristics at and near the Viking Chryse and Tritonis Lacus landing areas were determined by radio scatter using the new 12.6 cm radar at the Arecibo Observatory during 1975-1976. Interpretation of each power spectrum suggests rms surface tilts of 4° at the final A1WNW (47.9°W, 22.5°N) site, 5° near the original A1 site, and 6° between the two. At the back-up site (A2) surface roughness estimates were about 4°. Striking changes in surface texture have been found near the eastern bases of Tharsis Montes and Albor Tholus, each volcanic feature marking the western boundary of very smooth surface units. The roughness sensed at 1 to 100 m scales by radar appears to be relatively independent of the surface units defined at large scale lengths by photogeologists. Radar properties thus provide an additional means by which planetary surfaces may be characterized.
- Publication:
-
Icarus
- Pub Date:
- November 1978
- DOI:
- 10.1016/0019-1035(78)90101-X
- Bibcode:
- 1978Icar...36..153S
- Keywords:
-
- Landing Sites;
- Mars Surface;
- Radar Astronomy;
- Radar Echoes;
- Topography;
- Northern Hemisphere;
- Power Spectra;
- Radio Telescopes;
- Specular Reflection;
- Surface Roughness;
- Viking Mars Program;
- VIKING 1;
- LANDING SITES;
- VIKING ORBITER;
- IMAGERY;
- ALBOR THOLUS;
- RADAR ECHOES;
- CHRYSE;
- PLANITIA;
- MARINER 9;
- ROUGHNESS;
- MORPHOLOGY;
- VOLCANISM;
- ELYSIUM PLANITIA;
- SCATTERING;
- MARS;
- SURFACE;
- RADAR;
- OBSERVATIONS;
- MAPPING;
- SPECTRUM;
- CHARACTERISTICS