Since different materials reflect and emit energy in differentways, the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and ReflectionRadiometer (ASTER), with its multi-spectral infrared channels, canprovide detailed information about the composition of Earth’ssurface. In this 3-D perspective view looking north over DeathValley, California, ASTER’s bands 13 (10.6µm), 12 (9.1µm),and 10 (8.3µm) are displayed inred, green and blue respectively. The data have been computerenhanced to exaggerate the color variations that highlightdifferences in types of surface materials.
Salt deposits on the floor of Death Valley appear in shades ofyellow, green, purple, and pink, indicating the presence ofcarbonate, sulfate, and chloride minerals. The Panamint Mountainsto the west and the Black Mountains to the east are made up ofsedimentary limestones, sandstones, shales and metamorphic rocks.The bright red areas are dominated by the mineral quartz, foundin sandstones; green areas are limestones. In the lower center ofthe image is Badwater, the lowest point in North America.
This image was produced by draping ASTER nighttime thermalinfrared data, acquired on April 7, 2000, over topographic datafrom the U.S. Geological Survey.
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Image courtesy NASA/GSFC/MITI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team
