Advancing Subsurface Characterization of Mars-Analog Glaciers with Multi-System Drone-Based GPR

Advancing Subsurface Characterization of Mars-Analog Glaciers with Multi-System Drone-Based GPR | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 9 April 2026 V1 Latest version Share on Advancing Subsurface Characterization of Mars-Analog Glaciers with Multi-System Drone-Based GPR Authors : Roberto J Aguilar 0000-0003-0943-6364 [email protected] , Ari Koeppel 0000-0002-9809-4863 , Stefano Nerozzi 0000-0003-1236-535X , Michael Daniel 0009-0008-3248-4763 , Christopher S Edwards , John W Holt , and Tyler Meng 0000-0002-7200-0419 Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.177574456.67479340/v1 88 views 55 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Martian debris-covered glaciers (DCGs) contain large quantities of water ice beneath a protective layer of rock and dust. This is supported by the observations from the Shallow Radar (SHARAD) sounding radar orbiting Mars. Properties of the overlying regolith such as density and depth to ice are critical parameters for guiding in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) of water and coring missions targeting potential habitats. Englacial debris layers that progressively outcrop the surface could also provide access to enable shallow sampling of ice ages sequences. Ground penetrating radar (GPR) is capable of imaging through the debris layer on the surface, allowing us to quantify debris thickness and composition, glacier thickness, ice purity, and the presence of englacial debris. Prior studies have demonstrated the potential of drone-based GPR for resolving these shallow features on terrestrial DGCs using an 80 MHz system (Aguilar et al., 2026), but higher-frequency surveys to better resolve the supraglacial debris and near-surface stratigraphy have not been tested. To address this gap, we conducted drone-based GPR tests at multiple frequencies at Galena Creek Rock Glacier, the best studied terrestrial analog for Martian DCGs. Our platform consists of a DJI Matrice 350 RTK drone and AeroZond LF radar operating at a center frequency of 100, 150, and 400 MHz. Given the complex topography, obstacles, and surface irregularities, we followed terrain at 3 m with a laser rangefinder altimeter. This altitude allows a high signal-to-noise ratio and reduces clutter, without compromising the safety of the drone. Preliminary results over previously imaged sites demonstrate that subsurface features were consistently resolved with greater detail than previous aerial systems. Our study demonstrates that drone-based GPR systems operating at multiple frequencies offer a robust method for surveying near-surface features in debris-covered glaciers. This approach can enhance our understanding of ice-rich landforms on Earth and inform the design of future aerial GPR platforms for Mars, particularly those targeting ISRU assessments and search of life missions. * This work was presented at the Summit on Drone Geophysics 2025. References: Aguilar, R. J., Holt, J. W., Christoffersen, M. S., Meng, T. M., & Nerozzi, S. (2026). Revealing the internal structure of Mars-analog glaciers from drone-based radar sounding. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 131, e2025JE009208. https://doi.org/10.1029/2025JE009208 Detection of englacial debris layers at the cirque of the debris-covered glacier Galena Creek, Wyoming, using two drone-based ground-penetrating radar systems: (1) MALA Geodrone (80 MHz) and (2) ZondAero (150 MHz). Supplementary Material File (aguilar_dronegpr_sdg25.pdf) Download 11.39 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 09 April 2026 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords drone drone-based gpr geophysics gpr ground penetrating radar rock glacier Authors Affiliations Roberto J Aguilar 0000-0003-0943-6364 [email protected] Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona View all articles by this author Ari Koeppel 0000-0002-9809-4863 Department of Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College View all articles by this author Stefano Nerozzi 0000-0003-1236-535X Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona View all articles by this author Michael Daniel 0009-0008-3248-4763 Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona View all articles by this author Christopher S Edwards Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science, Northern Arizona University View all articles by this author John W Holt Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona View all articles by this author Tyler Meng 0000-0002-7200-0419 Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis View all articles by this author Funding Information University of Arizona CNRS-UA International Research Center, Global Grand Challenges Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 88 views 55 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Roberto J Aguilar, Ari Koeppel, Stefano Nerozzi, et al. Advancing Subsurface Characterization of Mars-Analog Glaciers with Multi-System Drone-Based GPR. Authorea . 09 April 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.177574456.67479340/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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