Titan and other icy satellites - Dielectric properties of constituent materials and implications for radar sounding

Radar sounding observations of Titan and the other outer solar system icy satellites have been conducted in order to ascertain the materials present, their dielectric properties, and the degree of radar signal penetration. Deep penetration is possible at long wavelengths, while strong reflections may occur due to pockets or layers of H2O-NH3 solution. Attention is given to the case of Titan, using models to calculate radar reflection S/N ratios; the models involve H2O ice covered by a 100-m thick layer of organic sediments that are overlain by an ocean of liquid CH4-C2H6-N2. At 13.6-cm wavelength, a greater-than-10 dB S/N is computed from the ocean-sediment and sediment-ice interfaces, suggesting that the geology of Titan may be investigated by such a sounding mode despite deep ocean coverage of the satellite.