Characterization of hydrothermal systems using simulated HyspIRI data

The Hyperspectral Infrared Imager (HyspIRI) is a proposed NASA satellite remote sensing system combining a visible to shortwave infrared (VSWIR) imaging spectrometer with over 200 spectral bands between 0.38 - 2.5 micrometers and an 8-band thermal infrared (TIR) multispectral imager. ^©± We have begun data and analysis simulations using airborne data in preparation for the future launch. Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) data with 224 spectral bands and multispectral TIR data from the MODIS/ASTER Airborne Simulator (MASTER) and the MODIS Airborne Simulator (MAS) sensors are being used to simulate the spectral and spatial HyspIRI response. The combined datasets, applied to measurement of geothermal and hydrothermal systems, successfully identify and map minerals such as goethite, hematite, jarosite, kaolinite, dickite, alunite, buddingtonite, montmorillonite, muscovite-illite, calcite, and hydrothermal silica. The TIR data were also used to extract elevated surface temperatures at active hot springs areas. The simulations demonstrate that HyspIRI data, while limited by their relatively coarse (60m) spatial resolution should still be useful for many geologic applications.