Scattering by Venus' surface

During 1992, Magellan altimetry echoes were processed to yield scattering functions sigma(sub o)(phi) over near-nadir angles phi less than or equal to 10 deg from some 2000 Venus orbits. SAR image strips acquired simultaneously at oblique angles were also reduced to give scattering functions but over a few deg of incidence angle in the range 15 less than or equal to phi less than or equal to 45 deg. By sorting, the altimetry and SAR results can be combined to give composite scattering functions for much of Venus' surface. The data in hand should allow definition of such composite functions for 70-80 percent of Venus at resolutions of 20 km--approximately one million separate functions.