3D imaging of Mars’ shallow subsurface with orbital radar data

Since November 2006, the Shallow Radar (SHARAD) aboard the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA's) Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has been conducting subsurface sounding operations from orbit around Mars. This extended campaign has provided tens of thousands of radar profiles of Mars shallow subsurface, with coverage density in some regions having become sufficient for performing three-dimensional (3D) imaging. Adapting methods and tools used to produce, analyze, and interpret terrestrial seismograms, we have produced and studied fully imaged 3D radargrams in Mars' polar and mid-latitudes regions. In this report, we provide some background on the SHARAD instrument, summarize the methods and tools used in creating 3D radargrams from SHARAD data, and present example views from the latest 3D radargram in the north polar region known as Planum Boreum (PB).