Satellite imagery elaboration (Aster Sensor, Terra Satellite), in order to map rock distribution in extreme areas. The prince albert mountain chain (Victoria Land - Antartica)

The present paper is a first attempt to use Remote Sensing and GIS methodologies in order to draw a rock distribution map in a extreme land as Antarctica. To this aim we elaborated an ASTER sensor image (Terra satellite). This sensor records medium resolution satellite images (from 15 m to 90 m pixels) in 14 different bands (from visible to thermal infrared). In the scientific community ASTER data represent a new tool in order to create land use maps, thermal distribution maps and 3d models of the territory. The adopted methodology is applied to a training area in Prince Albert mountain chain (Trans Antarctica Ridge - Victoria Land - Antarctica). We checked the spectral response of the satellite image pixels; then we estimated the kind of rock by the presence of different minerals in it. We did this comparing the reflectance values of the satellite image pixels with the one recorded in laboratory on each mineral in the different wavelengths corresponding to the ASTER sensor 14 bands. In order to control our estimation, we used a geologic map of the same area. This one was drawn within the framework of the Italian National Research Program in Antarctica (PNRA). We choose a ASTER sensor satellite scene recorded in the period of maximum ice cover on the land, in order to grant a minimum outcrop in the case of an eventual manual check in Antarctica.