Geologic Evaluation by Radar of NASA Sedimentary Test Site

Interdisciplinary research on the geoscience value of radar systems is being conducted by geoscientists and electrical engineers at the Center for Research in Engineering Science (CRES), University of Kansas, Lawrence. This paper presents a segment of the research in which the investigators studied similarities and contrasts between panchromatic aerial photography and radar imagery from the Cane Springs area in Arizona, for which precise surface geologic data are available. Lithologic and structural information is available on the radar imagery which is not as apparent on the air photography; however, the converse is also true. Interpretations also reveal the fundamental advantage of multisensor reconnaissance, in which several discrete parts of the electromagnetic spectrum are utilized. The resulting extrapolation of data can provide a valuable supplement to geological reconnaissance.