The scattering properties of natural terrestrial snows versus icy satellite surfaces

Abstract

A. J. Verbiscer and J. Veverka (1990,Icarus88,418-428) demonstrated that the single scattering properties of terrestrial snows are highly forward scattering in contrast to the single scattering properties of icy satellite surfaces, which all have a backscattering component to their single scattering functions as modeled with B. Hapke's equations (1981,J. Geophys. Res.86,3039-3054; 1984,Icarus59,41-59; 1986,Icarus67,264-280). This study demonstrates to first order that the differences between the scattering properties of icy satellite regoliths and their terrestrial counterparts are due to differences in particle structure and textures. We find that the particles of the regoliths of the icy satellites are composed of a complex mixture of grain textures and structures. © 1997 Academic Press.