Backscattering of Co-Pol and Cross-Pol from Martian Regolith Layer with Irregular Scatterers over an Underlying Half Space of Water/Ice

The use of polarimetric SAR to detect buried water/ice at shallow depths under the Martian surface is quantitatively explored. An electromagnetic model consisting of a dielectric layer that represents the Martian regolith (upper surface layer), with an underlying half space of water/ice, is considered. The top surface of the regolith and the regolith/ice interface are assumed to be rough at radar wavelength scales. It is also assumed that throughout the regolith, small rock particles with arbitrary shapes and prescribed orientation statistics are randomly distributed. Backscattering with co-polarization and cross-polarization from vertical or horizontal polarized waves incidence at L-band frequencies are considered. The Advanced Integral Equation Method (AIEM) is applied to irregular surfaces and the Distorted Born Approximation (DBA) applied to particle scattering and regolith attenuation.