Detection of geothermal anomalies using Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) thermal infrared images at Bradys Hot Springs, Nevada, USA

• Published in: Remote sensing of environment Vol. 106; no. 3; pp. 350 - 359
• Main Authors: Coolbaugh, M.F., Kratt, C., Fallacaro, A., Calvin, W.M., Taranik, J.V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 15-02-2007; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied geophysics; ASTER; Biological and medical sciences; Bradys; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects. Techniques; Geothermal; Great Basin; Internal geophysics; Nevada; Teledetection and vegetation maps; Thermal infrared; Basin and Range Province; Churchill County Nevada; United States; Great Basin; Nevada; USA, Nevada; Canada, Manitoba, Churchill; Thermal infrared; ASTER; Geothermal; Bradys; Great Basin; Nevada; thermal inertia; data; Night; Surface temperature; slopes; Image; North America; thermal emission; Slope; Ground surface; hot springs; Thermal phenomenon; Thermal variation; albedo; detection; processes; Infrared observation; topography; anomalies; Sun; Near infrared radiation; Heat; corrections; Heating; digital terrain models
• ISSN: 0034-4257; 1879-0704
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rse.2006.09.001

Surface temperature anomalies associated with geothermal activity at Bradys Hot Springs, Churchill County, Nevada were mapped using Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) thermal infrared (TIR) image data. In order to highlight subsurface contributions of geothermal heat, the ASTER images were processed to minimize temperature variations caused by the diurnal heating effects of the sun. Surface temperature variations caused by changes in albedo were corrected with visible and near-infrared ASTER bands, and a 10-meter-smoothed Digital Elevation Model (DEM) was used to correct for topographic slope effects. Field measurements of ground surface temperatures made over 24-hour periods were used to design a thermal inertia correction incorporating day and night thermal infrared images.
In the resulting processed image, background temperature variations were reduced 30–50% without reducing the intensity of geothermal anomalies, thus making it easier to distinguish geothermal activity from ‘false’ anomalies caused by non-thermal springs, topographic effects, and variable rock, soil, and vegetation compositions.