title: Venus: global surface radar reflectivity.
abstract: Observations of the surface of Venus, carried out by the Pioneer Venus radar mapper at a wavelength of 17 centimeters, reveal a global mean reflectivity at normal incidence of 0.13 +/- 0.03. Over the surface, variations from a low of 0.03 +/- 0.01 to a high of 0.4 +/- 0.1 are found, with Theia Mons, previously identified as possibly volcanic, showing a value of 0.28 +/- 0.07. Regions of high reflectivity may consist of rocks with substantial inclusions of highly conductive sulfides.
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Pettengill
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nozette