tl, Keproduced Copy OF Reproduced for NASA by the NASA Scientific and Technical Information Facility FFNo 672 Aug STATES UNlTEB Interagency Report DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NASA- 113 GEOLOGICAL SU RVEY September 1968...e WASHINGTON. D.C. 20242 Mr. Robert Porter Acting Program Chief, ). I Earth Resources Survey 5 (~Aensi Code SAR - NASA Headquarters ii 3 E Washington, D.C. 20546 (NASA CR OR TMX OR AD NUMB$RJ (CATEOORYJ Dear Bob: Transmitted herewith is one copy of: INTERAGENCY REPORT NASA-113 GEOLOGIC EVALUATION OF THERMAL INFRARED IMAGERY, CALIENTE AND TEMBLOR RANGES, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA* Edward W. Wolfe** Sincerely yours, William A. Fischer Research Coordinator EROS Program WNork performed under NASA Contract No. Vd-12589 and Task No. 160-75- W.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff, Arizona UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR GEOLOGICAL SURVEY INTERAGENCY REPORT NASA-113 GEOLOGIC EVALUATION OF THERMAL INFRARED IMAGERY, CALIENTE AND TEMBLOR RANGES, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA* by Edward W. Wolfe5Y-X September 1968 Prepared by the Geological Survey for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) *Work performed under NASA Contract No. bV212589 and Task No. 160-75-01-44-10 W.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff, Arizona FOREXORD The infrared imagery (8-13 micron) and photography described in this report were acquired by the NASA Convair 240 on blission 8 in June 1965. Ground data acquisition, conducted during May and October 1967, was aimed at determining the reasons for anomalous conditions revealed on the imagery; this study was part of the Geologic Applications Program Task entitled Ground Truth Investigations - NASA No. 160-75,01-44-10. Page ILLUSTRATIONS Figure I - Index map showing major physiographic features and approximate locations of areas described and illustrated in this report. Figure 2 - Generalized geologic map of study area. Figue 3a - Pre-damn infrared image - Caliente Range and Carrizo Plain. Figure 3b - ?re-dam infrared image - Carrizo Plain, Elkhorn Plain, and Temblor Range. Figure 3c - Pre-dam infrared image - Temblor Range, Figure 4a - Post-sunrise infrared inage - Caliente Range and Carrizo ?lain. Figure 4b - Post-sunrise infrared image - Carrizo Plain, Elkhorn Plain, and Temblor RaEge. Figure 4c - Post-sunrise infrared Wge - Temblor Range. Figure 5 - Snall sca.le asrial photograch of Tem5lor Range southwest of Fellom. ILLUSTRATIONS (CONTINIJED) Figure 6 - Radiation temperatures measured by Barnes IT-3 radiometer at locality 13, Temblor Rmge, May 22-24, 1967. Figure 7 - he-dawn infrared image'of part of Carrizo Plain east of Soda Lake. Figure 8 - he-dawn infrared image near southeast end of Carrizo Plain. 1 Geologic E va lza t icy. G f T'ner~naI Tiif rare6 Ir.age zj-, Caliente and Temblor Raiiges, Soukhern California by U.S. Geological Srtrvey 365 Middlefield Rozd, Mcnlo Park, Calif. - ABSTRACT. Therm1 infrared (8 to 13 micron) imgery vas obtainsd in the Caiiente and Temblor Ranges and Carrizo Plafn, southern California, in. the pre- dawn and post- sunrise hours of June 18, 1965 s Field observations ; measuse- nents of moisture 2nd specific gravity of the regolith, and radiatioa tenperaturzs; and cozparison with geologic naps and aerial photograpts lead to the following conclusions: (1) Th2 specific gravities of surficial materlals (iisually nnt be&rocl! influence tonal densities in the pre-dam imagery. (2) GeologEc interpretation of tonal density patterns is coz;licatei by tcpggrsptic, atmospheric, and vegetative effects 3n pi-e-dan ra3iiztion. (3) Geologic featnres sach as outcrop patterns and somo- faults ~x-2 The sexicivity of the system to microclimztic acomalies may be val;l~Ble in aidll.;g recognition of some geologic sub t Le ---_. expression, 2 (5) Post-sunrise iniagery is dmina'ied by he pi-eferencial wzrrning of slopes exposed to the early morning sun and resembles low sun angle photographs. Introductiori Thermal infrared imgery, recording radiation from 8 to 13 microns in wevelength, vas flow by NASA on JULEIS, 1955 in the Carrizo Plain of southern California. A line approsimtely normal to the regfonal geologic structure tias selected for detailed analysis and is shoi\rn in Yigtire I. Localities at which supplemental observations were made are Figure 1 near here also shown in figure 1. A preliminary report on imagery from the Carrizo Plain was made by Vallate and Moxham (1966, 1967). A published geologic map by Vedder and Repenning (1955) was extensively used in the Caliente Range, and unpublished mzps by both T. I?. Dibblee and J. G. Vedder were used to evaluate the imagery in the Temblor Range. Figure 2 is a genEralized geologic map of the area in :ihich imagsry Figure 2 near here -- . was studied in detail. The stratigraphic nonenclature used on the map and in this report is that of Dibblee (19G2). Fi 3 In the image area the Caliente and Temblor Rafiges are underlain by steeply dipping clastic rocks of late Tertiary age. In addition, 3 basalt flows occur within the Caliente Range sequence. The Caliente and Temblor Ranges in the imzge area are largely mantled by soil or debris derived from the underlying strata, and extensive outcrcps of bare bedrock are C. rare. Imagery The infrared images (figures 3 and 4) are line-scan displays of the i Figures 3, 4, and 5 near here areal distri3ution of radiation intensities in the 8 to 13 microiiwave- length band. Areas of intense radiation are relatively Light in tone; those of relatively weak radiation are dark in tone in the images. r' Radiation intensity varies directly with emissivity and with the fourth power of absolute surface temperature. Curvature near the image margins is a distortion inherent in the scanning technique. Figure 3 is an image made shortly before dawn (0506-0510 PDT) so that the effects of differential solar heating related to slope orienta- tion'are minimized. Figure 4 is an image made shortly after sunrise --- (0635-0638). In this image surfaces warmed by the sun appear relatively bright much as they would in early morning photographs. Figure 5, an aerial photograph of the northeastern part of the imaged strip, was taken from about 35,000 feet on a midswmer day. Figure 3a. he-dawn infrared image - Caliente Range and Carrizo Plain. See Figure 1 for location. Figure 4a. Post-sunrise inI"r3sed image - Caliecte 3xge ad Cazrizo Plain. See Figure 1 for locatfcr, Figure L+b. Post-sunrise infrared image - Car~izo?lain, =horn Plain, and Temblor Xange. See Figye I ..- -.,-e I ?i,nure 3c6 Pre-dawn infrared i.;..age - Texblor Xulge, . See ?ig~re1 for locatim. Figure 4c. Post-sunrise infrared image - Texblor --gee See Figure 1 for location. strike ridges on orhich bare sandstone beds arid basnlt flows are exposed. Pebbly testure is chapparal. (2) White line coincides with sharp break in slope at the outer edge of a terrace mantled by old alluvium. (3) Flat to slightly concave remnants oE an old alluviated surface appear dark as do portions of nearby streain canyons. (4) White line coincides with strike ridge on which the uppermost of three basaLt flows forms a bold outcrop of bare rocI;. (5) Some strike ridge as 2, but here, where the white line is in- distinct, the basalt is rnan'iled by soil 2nd rubble. (G) White line corresponds to bare outcrop of hai-d, li ght-colored mudstone to sandy mudstone. Adjacent bcdi-oclc i!ic?ntl.i-!cl by soil. (7) Dark band corresponds to thc! outcr~pof the QuaLal Formation, (8) Small dark patches c9rrespcF.d to outcro?s cr' reGdlsh-bmvn expandiilg clay In hhralcs Forixst.ic;n. The bcrci3ring rna~erfzlsgivir,g brighter tones are sandy soils developed on th2 ?IorE;ies FDrnation and deposits of sarziy and gravelly allu-riu~that veneer all but the $.mall areas represented 3y the dark spots. (9) Low hill underlain by claystone, sandstme, am? 'conglomrate of the Mcrzles Formation;'boundeS by broad alluviated areas. In. post-sunrhe - imagery the hill is more distinctly outlined because of preferential heating of slopes exposed to the sun. (10) Small hill, a few feet high, relztively bright, lies within a 'dark region that corresponds approximately with the lovest part of the Carrizo Plain in the image area.. Inages show agricultural fieid patterns Hnc? fan pattsrns vhere 'intermittent streams deboiteh onto +he broad alb.wi.nted Carrizo Plain. Beczusc the Carrizo Plzin is nearly flat, there t. is a&ost no preferential solar heatlng, and the post-suniise image c13seaiy resenbles the pre-davm imap. (11) Dark spots represect accumulations of tum5leweeb against a fence at the northeast edge of the Carrizo Plain. - (12) Nortt:.rest- trending trench alogg recently activc? trace of San Andreas farrLt. Well drained grrlly boitons, includins t'rn, trench along the fault and the fine gullies forning a filigret-pattern CR low ridze -- . southwest of the Eeilltr, appear jright, 6 (14) Bittematez Creek Shale in contact to northeast witi very coarse conglomerate of the Santa Margarita Fornation. Coa@oner&te and alluvial apron that bounds it on the sou$hh.iiest are bright and contrast sharply with darkly imaged Bitterwater Creek Shale, Note that in aerial photograph the contact between Santa Margarita conglomerate and alluvium is readily apparent. (15) Outcrops of downfolded Bitterwater Creek Shale dark; bright in aerial photograph. Geologic map (figure 2) portrays distribution of sandstone and shale mapped together as Bitterwater Creek Shale. linagery and aerial photograph, on the other hand, display shale facies in sharp contrast to surrounding rocks whether they be Santa Margarita Formation, a sandstone facies of &e Bitterwater Creek, &r the alluvium of the Eurhorn Plain. (16) Sharp radiation contact coincides with a fault separating Monterey Shale to the northeast from Santa Margarita conglomerate and a sandstone mapped With the Bitterwater Creek Shale. The conglomerate and the Bitterwater Creek sandstone, inseparable in the imagery as well as in the aerial.