Automated Discontinuity Detection and Reconstruction in Subsurface Environment of Mars Using Deep Learning: A Case Study of SHARAD Observation

Abstract

Machine learning (ML) algorithmic developments and improvements in Earth and planetary science are expected to bring enormous benefits for areas such as geospatial database construction, automated geological feature reconstruction, and surface dating. In this study, we aim to develop a deep learning (DL) approach to reconstruct the subsurface discontinuities in the subsurface environment of Mars employing the echoes of the Shallow Subsurface Radar (SHARAD), a sounding radar equipped on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). Although SHARAD has produced highly valuable information about the Martian subsurface, the interpretation of the radar echo of SHARAD is a challenging task considering the vast stocks of datasets and the noisy signal. Therefore, we introduced a 3D subsurface mapping strategy consisting of radar echo pre-processors and a DL algorithm to automatically detect subsurface discontinuities. The developed components the of DL algorithm were synthesized into a subsurface mapping scheme and applied over a few target areas such as mid-latitude lobate debris aprons (LDAs), polar deposits and shallow icy bodies around the Phoenix landing site. The outcomes of the subsurface discontinuity detection scheme were rigorously validated by computing several quality metrics such as accuracy, recall, Jaccard index, etc. In the context of undergoing development and its output, we expect to automatically trace the shapes of Martian subsurface icy structures with further improvements in the DL algorithm.

Remote Sensing and Data Analyses on Planetary Topography

“…In particular, the introduction of orbiting ground penetrating radars, such as the Mars Shallow Radar sounder (SHARAD) or the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding (MARSIS), first needs to produce a radar clutter map to define discontinuities due to the presence of ice layers [327,328]. This process requires corresponding DEM data, and then discontinuities can be defined in comparison to radar clutter maps manually or even by machine learning methods [329]. It is worth noting that the discontinuity distributions found by SHARAD or MARSIS analysis have been successfully used to discover existing cryosphere in the Martian subsurface [330,331].…”