Three-dimensional imaging of martian glaciated terrain using Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Shallow Radar (SHARAD) observations

We present a three-dimensional radargram of a 13° x 11° region of Deuteronilus Mensae, produced from 457 Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Shallow Radar (SHARAD) observations. We assess the viability of the 3D imaging algorithms developed to work with SHARAD observations in mid-latitude regions of interest. The quality of subsurface imaging in topographically complex regions is highly improved due to the proper positioning and mitigation of off-nadir reflections in the resulting image. The initial analysis of debris-covered glaciers using 3D radargrams has yielded results that are consistent with previous 2D-based mapping efforts. However, the use of 3D radargrams has enabled the analysis of 3× more area resulting in more accurate estimates of total ice volume, indicating over 9% more ice than previously estimated. Such discrepancies have important implications for Mars climate history studies and in situ resource utilization. The success of this imaging study paves the way for future 3D radargrams in the martian mid-latitudes and stands to increase our confidence in the distribution of many subsurface features of interest. •We performed 3D radar imaging of a ∼13° x ∼11° region of eastern Deuteronilus Mensae, Mars using SHARAD observations.•The results improve the imaging of structures while mitigating interference between nadir and off-nadir returns.•The 3D radargram allows three times more area to be analyzed, resulting in a 9.45% increase in estimated water-ice volume.•Creating more 3D radargrams in ice-rich areas will increase our understanding of current water-ice reservoirs on Mars.