ASTER spectral band ratios for lithological mapping: a case study for measuring geological offset along the Erkenek Segment of the East Anatolian Fault Zone, Turkey

Abstract

The current work examines the lithological variation along the Erkenek Segment of the East Anatolian Fault (EAF), a major tectonic structure which accommodates the westward extrusion of Anatolia together with the North Anatolian Fault. Mapping the geology at high spatial resolution along this segment with conventional mapping techniques is highly challenging due to the complex tectonic setting and the abundant number of different lithological units of varying spatial extent. Therefore, in the current study, the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data along the Erkenek Segment have been used different spectral rationing techniques are applied with band the ratios of 1/3–1/9–3/9, 7/3–1/7–3/5 and 9/5–5/3–3/1 being remarkably useful for detailed lithological mapping and hence detecting the geological offsets along this section of the fault. Thus, these ASTER band ratio images can be used for the lithological mapping along the whole EAF and on other regions in the world with similar lithological and geomorphological conditions.