Mapping Subsurface Geology in Sahara Using L-Band SAR: First Results From the ALOS/PALSAR Imaging Radar

Author

Paillou, Philippe ; Lopez, Sylvia ; Farr, Tom ; Rosenqvist, Ake

Author_Institution

OASU, Univ. de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France

Volume

3

Issue

4

fYear

2010

Firstpage

632

Lastpage

636

Abstract

Within the framework of Kyoto & Carbon Initiative of the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA), we used JERS-1 and ALOS/PALSAR radar images to build regional and continental scale mosaics of Sahara. The unique capability of L-band SAR to map subsurface structures in arid areas revealed previously unknown geological features: craters, faults, paleo-rivers. The latter are of particular interest for water resource detection in arid regions.

Keywords

faulting; geology; geophysical image processing; hydrology; rivers; synthetic aperture radar; terrain mapping; topography (Earth); water resources; ALOS-PALSAR imaging radar; ALOS-PALSAR radar images; JERS-1 images; Japanese Space Agency; Kyoto & Carbon Initiative; L-band SAR; Sahara; arid areas; arid regions; craters; faults; paleohydrology; paleorivers; subsurface geology; subsurface structures; water resource detection; Geology; Hydrology; L-band; Optical imaging; Radar imaging; Remote sensing; Satellites; Sensor arrays; Spaceborne radar; Synthetic aperture radar; Water resources; ALOS; K&C initiative; PALSAR; Sahara; craters; paleo-hydrology; subsurface geology; water resources;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1939-1404

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JSTARS.2010.2056915

Filename

5549985