During this webinar, we will employ RUS to learn how Sentinel data can contribute to geological mapping. We will use Sentinel-1 GRD Level-1 and Sentinel-2 MSI Level-2A products to classify the different lithological units and structures over the Anti-Atlas Mountains in Morocco and combine it with geological data.
We will also show you how to access the RUS Service and how to download, process, analyse and visualize the free data acquired by the Copernicus satellites.
Background
Morocco consists of very fascinating landforms and landscapes and it is an attractive field for studying geology. It is located at the node of Africa (continent), the Atlantic Ocean and an active plate collision zone – the Alpide belt system. This composition results in a rough topography with terrains spanning from Archean to Cenozoic Era, with diverse tectonic systems.
The Anti-Atlas Mountains formed in the Paleozoic Era as a result of continental collisions and are part of the Atlas Mountains, with a SW-NE direction. Most of the land is dry and barren with annual precipitation less than 200 mm, thus, the rocky outcrops and lunar landscapes of extreme contrasts are dominant.
Geologists can employ both SAR and optical remote sensing data in order to extract geological information, depending on the geological setting of area of interest. The use of SAR images is playing an important role in recent years by providing a wealth of information in this field, such as geological structure and lithological mapping. The fusion of radar and optical images can simplify the interpretation and improve the accuracy of recognizing and detecting lithological units.
Although remote sensing is a very useful tool for geological survey, it has some limitations. But, by combining the advantages of both methods and integrating remote sensing data with geological data and field observations, we can better monitor and understand the geological processes.