Polarization properties and Earth-based radar measurements of Venus in the post-Magellan era

Studies of the polarization properties of reflected radar signals provide information about wavelength-scale surface and subsurface irregularities and can place constraints on the scattering models used to explain anomalously high backscatter cross sections, such as those measured for the surfaces of the icy Galilean satellites. The JPL aircraft-mounted synthetic aperture radars (SAR) provide cross-section and polarization information for terrestrial terrain types. Comparison of these measurements with results from the Magellan mission is helping to relate volcanic flow types on Venus to terrestrial equivalents. Unfortunately, the Magellan SAR transmits and receives a single linear polarization so that information concerning the polarization properties is dependent on past and future observations from the Earth, primarily with the 12.6-cm wavelength (the same as Magellan) radar system on the Arecibo telescope.