Radar signal simulation on investigation of subsurface structure by radar ice depth sounder

We develop a new method of reducing the strong ice surface clutters for imaging of subsurface stratified structure with larger roughness of ice-sheet margins. The surface clutter simulator developed by employing Kirchhoff approximation (KA) of rough surface scattering and the ray tracing of geometric optics (GO) theory can provide the properties of radar echoes from ice layered structure with multilayer rough interfaces. The radar echo simulation method can support the interpretation of radar real observations from ice layered mediums for obtaining good and accurate information of polar ice geological structure and evolutions. In addition, the numerical simulation method can provide an effective tool to identify whether deeper layers or ice-bed nadir echoes masked by strong surface off nadir echo still return to radar receiver or not, which is helpful for radar system design and configuration parameters. The digital filter technique is developed for suppressing the strong surface clutters from ice surface interference targets which can be identified by Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) analysis. The proposed ice data processing techniques are demonstrated by ice data processing results of certain outlet glaciers topography with steep slopes.