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Active airborne infrared laser system for identification of surface rock and minerals
Author(s) -
Kahle Anne B.,
Shumate Michael S.,
Nash David B.
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl011i011p01149
Subject(s) - emissivity , remote sensing , multispectral image , multispectral scanner , infrared , geology , thermal infrared , reflectivity , mineralogy , laser , optics , physics
Emissivity and reflectivity in the thermal infrared spectral region (8‐13 µm) may be used to discriminate among rocks and minerals. Although considerable success has been achieved in remote sensing classification of rock types based on emissivity measurements made with NASA'S Thermal Infrared Multispectral Scanner (TIMS), classification based on reflectivity offers several advantages: much narrower bandwidths are used, higher signal to noise ratios are possible, and measurements are little affected by surface temperature. As a demonstration, an airborne CO 2 laser instrument was flown along the margin of Death Valley, California. Measurements of spectral reflectance collected with this device were compared with emissivity measurements made with the TIMS. Data from either instrument provided the means for recognizing boundaries between geologic units including different rock types and fan surfaces of different ages.