for the identification and mapping of ground ice on

Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Background: Since the early flyby missions of the 1970s, the study of Mars has largely focused on understanding the role of water (liquid or solid) in the geological evolution of the planet as well as its potential to support biotic activity. Data generated by the Mars Odyssey neutron and gamma ray spectrometers indicate large reservoirs of hydrogen (possibly H2O ice) in the near surface of Mars at latitudes greater than 50°. Additionally, Viking Orbiters and the Mars Orbiter Camera have revealed numerous landforms, possibly related to ground ice and permafrost processes (e.g., polygonal terrain, pingo-like mounds, thermokarst depressions, debris-aprons, and rock glacier-like features). However, despite observational evidence, an accurate identification and mapping of near-surface ground ice remains an open research question. Recently, the use of geophysical methods for investigating the Martian subsurface has witnessed growing interest among planetary scientists. Research involving the design and testing of geophysical instruments has focused primarily on Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and, to a lesser extent, seismic sounding, Time Domai