Tectonomorphometric analysis using remote sensing and GIS techniques in the high folded zone between perat (Bekhme)‎ anticline and bradost anticline, NE Iraq

Abstract EN

In this study, remote sensing and GIS analysis techniques are used to determine geological and morphometric properties of the High Folded Zone (HFZ), NE Iraq.

In order to identify tectonic activity of study area, different indices including Hypsometric Integral (HI), Surface Roughness (SR), Surface Index (SI), Topographic Position Index (TPI), Incision Map and Stream Length gradient index (SL) were used for four rivers within our study area.

For Geomorphological Mapping, we used ASTER level 3 having three bands in the Visible and Near InfraRed (VNIR) spectral with spatial resolution of 15m that were acquired on 15 September 2006.

ASTER Digital Elevation Model (DEM) with resolution 15m was used with ASTER VNIR to construct an anaglyph image for 3D viewing based on ERDAS Imagine V.13 and Arc GIs V.10 as well as shaded relief.

Quick Bird images with spatial resolution 0.6m were used for visual interpretation to determinate geomorphological units.

The Geomorphological units of the study area were classified into four units depending on their tectonics activities which are: unit of structural origin, unit of structural – denudational origin, unit of denudational origin and unit of fluvial origin.

Each of these units includes different lithomorphologic landforms, which were developed as a result of tectonic activities, structural, lithologic (competent, incompetent) and climatic factors.