Lateritic palaeosols of N.E. Africa: a remote sensing study

Remote sensing data and image processing techniques are used increasingly to aid scientific investigation and address geological problems in areas that are difficult to map by conventional methods. This thesis explores how multi spectral satellite data, supported by traditional geological techniques, facilitate a study of lateritic palaeosols. The work centres on laterites, which are thin but important elements of the Phanerozoic stratigraphy of NE Africa. They immediately pre-date midOligocene flood basalts and, if mapped, can be used to delineate a flood basalt-Iaterite contact and define the pre-30 Ma African Surface and uplift patterns. They have important engineering properties and are key to understanding basement alteration and its associated mineralization. They affect agriculture and groundwater quality and retention - essential in Sub-Saharan Aflica where access to safe water is limited. They dominate the landscape, yet are unmapped and marginalised in the literature. Their geological context supports a laterite-focused remote sensing mapping strategy. A strategy for geologic mapping of laterites based on their simple mineralogy and spectral characteristics that distinguish them from other rocks is developed. Methods for mapping are presented using Earth Observation data. The outcome is a series of regional geological maps of Eritrea and Ethiopia. These reveal that laterite cover is more extensive than previously thought and enable further lines of research. The maps provide a means of regional dating of laterites, which, together with ages obtained for overlying flood basalts and new basement cooling ages, indicate a major planation during the Palaeozoic and constrain the timing of associated uplift and erosion. A regional review of Mesozoic-Cenozoic climatic, strati graphic and structural evolution is presented and a model of Neogene deformation of the lateriteflood basalt datum is produced. Finally, laterite maps, petrographic and geochemical evidence are used to access basic essentials of life: clean water, a safe environment and a sustainable economy

Geo-structural map of the Laguna Blanca basin (Southern Central Andes, Catamarca, Argentina)

The Laguna Blanca basin is a rhomb-shaped basin located at the SE margin of the Puna plateau in the southern Central Andes (Catamarca, Argentina). An interactive analysis using remote sensing and field mapping enabled us to produce a geo-structural map at a 1:350,000 scale. Satellite images from multispectral sensors (ASTER and Landsat 7 ETM+) and medium resolution Digital Elevation Models (SRTM and ASTER GDEM) were used in order to recognize the structures and main lithologies, which were validated in the field and through laboratory tests (e.g. spectral analysis). The final result is a geo-structural map of the Laguna Blanca basin with a new geological unit subdivision, highlighting its tectonic origin, which appears to be related to a releasing stepover along N-S sinistral strike-slip master faults

Nasa's Land Remote Sensing Plans for the 1980's

Research since the launch of LANDSAT-1 has been primarily directed to the development of analysis techniques and to the conduct of applications studies designed to address resource information needs in the United States and in many other countries. The current measurement capabilities represented by MSS, TM, and SIR-A and B, coupled with the present level of remote sensing understanding and the state of knowledge in the discipline earth sciences, form the foundation for NASA's Land Processes Program. Science issues to be systematically addressed include: energy balance, hydrologic cycle, biogeochemical cycles, biological productivity, rock cycle, landscape development, geological and botanical associations, and land surface inventory, monitoring, and modeling. A global perspective is required for using remote sensing technology for problem solving or applications context. A successful model for this kind of activity involves joint research with a user entity where the user provides a test site and ground truth and NASA provides the remote sensing techniques to be tested

Investigation related to multispectral imaging systems

A summary of technical progress made during a five year research program directed toward the development of operational information systems based on multispectral sensing and the use of these systems in earth-resource survey applications is presented. Efforts were undertaken during this program to: (1) improve the basic understanding of the many facets of multispectral remote sensing, (2) develop methods for improving the accuracy of information generated by remote sensing systems, (3) improve the efficiency of data processing and information extraction techniques to enhance the cost-effectiveness of remote sensing systems, (4) investigate additional problems having potential remote sensing solutions, and (5) apply the existing and developing technology for specific users and document and transfer that technology to the remote sensing community

Selected bibliography of remote sensing

Bibliography of remote sensing techniques for analysis and assimilation of geographic dat

Quarterly literature review of the remote sensing of natural resources

The Technology Application Center reviewed abstracted literature sources, and selected document data and data gathering techniques which were performed or obtained remotely from space, aircraft or groundbased stations. All of the documentation was related to remote sensing sensors or the remote sensing of the natural resources. Sensors were primarily those operating within the 10 to the minus 8 power to 1 meter wavelength band. Included are NASA Tech Briefs, ARAC Industrial Applications Reports, U.S. Navy Technical Reports, U.S. Patent reports, and other technical articles and reports

NASA geology program bibliography

A bibliography of scientific papers, articles, and books based on research supported by the NASA Geology Program is given. The citations cover the period 1980 to 1990. An author index is included

Literature review of the remote sensing of natural resources

Abstracts of 596 documents related to remote sensors or the remote sensing of natural resources by satellite, aircraft, or ground-based stations are presented. Topics covered include general theory, geology and hydrology, agriculture and forestry, marine sciences, urban land use, and instrumentation. Recent documents not yet cited in any of the seven information sources used for the compilation are summarized. An author/key word index is provided

Remote sensing of snow and ice: A review of the research in the United States 1975 - 1978

Research work in the United States from 1975-1978 in the field of remote sensing of snow and ice is reviewed. Topics covered include snowcover mapping, snowmelt runoff forecasting, demonstration projects, snow water equivalent and free water content determination, glaciers, river and lake ice, and sea ice. A bibliography of 200 references is included

A methodology for small scale rural land use mapping in semi-arid developing countries using orbital imagery. Part 6: A low-cost method for land use mapping using simple visual techniques of interpretation

The author has identified the following significant results. It was found that color composite transparencies and monocular magnification provided the best base for land use interpretation. New methods for determining optimum sample sizes and analyzing interpretation accuracy levels were developed. All stages of the methodology were assessed, in the operational sense, during the production of a 1:250,000 rural land use map of Murcia Province, Southeast Spain