A forward scattering and propagation model for Antarctic ice sheet investigations

A forward scattering and propagation model has been developed with the primary intent to investigate the feasibility of sounding the Antarctic ice sheet using a spaceborne radar system. The use of the model is also envisaged for support and interpretation of airborne ice sounding or ground penetrating radar (GPR) data. In principle, the model could also be used to support planetary radar sounding missions, for example, including those for Mars. The model computes the time-pulsed backscattered response from a very large 3D volume which includes a series of user-defined gridded layers representing the ice surface, bedrock, intermediate ice layers and other possible material that may be found within the ice, e.g. volcanic ash. Earth curvature, large-scale topography, undulations or sastrugi are taken into account in the elevation of each elementary grid cell. Presented simulation results are compared with actual data (GPR or airborne radar sounder data) in order to demonstrate the overall validity and functionality of the model. The model architecture is such that it allows input description of both the ice sheet and instrument characteristics ranging from very simple (for demonstration) to very complex (for the expert users).