Abstract Composition, distribution, spectral properties, and Landsat thematic mapper (TM) imagery influences of desert varnish were investigated at three study sites in southern Nevada, U.S.A. Thematic mapper signatures of diverse volcanic rock assemblages were found to depend largely on primary petrochemical characteristics. Results indicate that desert varnish exerts minimal influence on TM imagery at longer wavelengths (bands 4–7) but absorbs higher frequency radiation (TM bands 1–3), leading to relatively high TM band values and dark contrast on images over units with a high rock-varnish albedo difference (RVAD). Highly evolved volcanic deposits exhibit steep positive spectral slopes in the TM band 5–7 region, resulting in low values and dark tonal contrast on images.
Differentiating volcanic rock assemblages using Landsat thematic mapper data — Influence of petrochemistry and desert varnish
Advances in Space Research ; 9 , 1 ; 93-98
1989-01-01
6 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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