Surface feature reconnaissance of Death valley, California using skylab S192 multispectral scanner thermal data

Thermal channel data collected with the Skylab S192 multispectral scanner was evaluated for a scene collected over the Death Valley, California area during January 1974. The data collection features of the scanner and the preprocessing of computer compatible precision data products are described. The thermal scene is evaluated for surface feature discrimination using three techniques: 1) false color image construction based on data statistics, 2) image density slicing based on a frequency histogram, and 3) quantitative and qualitative single-channel classification of predominant features in the scene. Procedures and results are discussed and sample test materials are presented. The results indicate that relative temperature values in small adjacent areas have potential importance in feature discrimination. The temperatures of nonadjacent features over a large scene have less immediate value due to the adiabatic effects of altitude and the effects of differential solar heating.