Thousands of radar profiles were needed to create a 3D view of the underground radar volume. This helped to obtain new information about polar Martian areas, including accurate mapping of CO 2 and water ice.
With this data, researchers will be able to understand better the changes in the climatic situation of the Red Planet, as well as the age of the polar caps, without using climate models. For this purpose, a sonar SHARAD on the MRO.
For example, it was possible to create a more accurate map of CO 2, so that you can better estimate the volume indicator. The sublimation of this material to the atmosphere occurred in the early period of the Martian development and was twice as high as the modern atmospheric phenomenon. That is, early conditions allowed liquid water to be present.
Among the finds are buried craters. New images show details in the form of a bowl, serving as a hidden crater formation, many of which were based at the base of the ice layers. To give an age estimate of the planetary surface, researchers collect data on the number, parameters, and distribution of craters.
This is a 3D review that demonstrates the power of the reverse radar (blue is the maximum, and white is the minimum) with previously known (black) and hidden (red) objects in the north polar cap. The information base of SHARAD is based on the orbital inclination of the MRO. At the depths found pure water ice
Analysis of the craters in the northern cap shows an age of 3.5 billion years, which corresponds to the figure for the surrounding plains. 3D-review makes such studies more effective, because it performs everything quickly. No more matching thousands of shots. A new way allows you to inspect a picture, which took months and years to complete. The MGS with the MOLA laser altimeter also helped.
