A new method for determining the total electron content in Mars’ ionosphere based on Mars Express MARSIS data

The Impact of Energetic Particles on the Martian Ionosphere During a Full Solar Cycle of Radar Observations: Radar Blackouts

“…For surface and subsurface sounding, the radar signals must pass through the ionosphere. While that passage may distort echoes from the surface and subsurface, it can also be beneficial scientifically for other studies, as the resultant time delay of the signal passing through the ionized medium can be used to derive the ionospheric Total Electron Content, TEC (e.g., Campbell et al., 2011; Campbell & Watters, 2016; Cartacci et al., 2018, 2013; Conroy et al., 2020; Safaeinili et al., 2007; Sanchez‐Cano et al., 2015). However, the data may be of little use for either purpose if enhanced ionization at low altitude results in increased attenuation such that the power of the returned signal is reduced below the background noise level (Campbell et al., 2014; Espley et al., 2007; Morgan et al., 2006).…”