Mapping of Landsat Satellite and Gravity Lineaments in West Tennessee

Abstract

Earthquakes are a common occurrence in west Tennessee. Yet it is difficult to recognize related faults within the alluvial valley because of the unconsolidated sediments. Therefore, a synergetic approach to the analysis of lineament patterns was applied through the use of Landsat satellite and gravity anomaly data. Landsat satellite images were evaluated for lineament identification using different spectral bands, seasons, enhancement, and image interpretation techniques. Gravity trends were delineated on the gravity anomaly map of west Tennessee, and gravity lineaments were identified and mapped. The Landsat and gravity lineaments were quantitatively analyzed and compared by means of two‐dimensional histograms and rose diagrams. The results indicated that the primary direction of both Landsat and gravity lineaments was NE; N36‐63E for Landsat and N27‐72E for gravity. Weaker trends were found in N50‐55W for Landsat and N60‐70W for gravity. The NE trend of the lineaments corresponded to faults and was in accordance with reactivation of the Reelfoot rift near the Mississippi River. These results suggest that deeper features, maybe at the earthquake focal depth, probably extend to the land surface as Landsat detectable lineaments.