Application of satellite remote sensing data for geological mapping in Antarctic Peninsula

Abstract

Remote sensing imagery is capable to provide a solution to overcome the difficulties associated with field mapping in the Antarctic. Recent generation of high resolution multi-platform satellite sensors with various spectra-spatial imagery in shortwave infrared to long wavelength thermal and radar regions of the electromagnetic spectrum could be investigated to extract geological information for Antarctic environments. The Antarctic Peninsula (AP) contains a variety of well-exposed lithologies and areas that have not been mapped. The different geological history and environmental conditions suggest that Antarctic Peninsula (AP) is one of the more likely places in Antarctica for significant base-metal deposits and possible associated gold and silver due to analogy with the Andes Mountain Range of South America. In this scientific research, the Antarctic Peninsula (AP) was selected to conduct satellite remote sensing investigations. Landsat-7 Thematic Mapper (TM), the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) and Advanced Land Imager (ALI) data were used to extract the information in different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The improvised image processing algorithms and systematic GIS techniques were implemented to detect structural elements and geological features for producing detailed geological maps of the Antarctic Peninsula. The outcomes of the investigation demonstrated that new revisions of geological maps with high accuracy of the Antarctic Peninsula could be produced using recent remote sensing satellite data. The results could be extended to map coverage of non-investigated regions further east and validated previously inferred geological observations concerning other rocks and mineral deposits throughout the Antarctica.