Orbital radar evidence for lunar subsurface layering in Maria Serenitatis and Crisium.
Abstract
Data from the lunar-orbiting Apollo 17 radar sounding experiment (60-m wavelength) have been examined in both digital and holographic formats, and it is concluded that there are two subsurface radar reflectors below the surface in Mare Serenitatis and one reflector below the surface in Mare Crisium. The mean apparent depths of the reflectors below the surface of the former Mare are 0.9 and 1.6 km, while the reflector below the surface of the latter Mare has a mean depth of 1.4 km. These reflectors represent basin-wide subsurface interfaces. Techniques for reducing surface backscatter (clutter) in the data are described, and reasons for thinking that the distinct alignments in radar returns represent subsurface reflecting horizons are explained
- Publication:
-
Journal of Geophysical Research
- Pub Date:
- July 1978
- DOI:
- 10.1029/JB083iB07p03459
- Bibcode:
- 1978JGR....83.3459P
- Keywords:
-
- Lunar Maria;
- Radar Echoes;
- Radar Measurement;
- Remote Sensors;
- Apollo 17 Flight;
- Data Processing;
- Digital Techniques;
- Lunar Orbits;
- Lunar Surface;
- Signal To Noise Ratios;
- APOLLO;
- APOLLO LUNAR SOUNDING EXPERIMENT;
- MOON;
- SERENTATIS;
- MARE;
- CRISIUM;
- RADAR;
- ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES;
- MORPHOLOGY;
- SURFACE;
- LUNAR;
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration; Moon;
- Moon:Interior