Role of sentinel-2 remotely sensed data in assisting stratigraphic subdivision of a Paleogene carbonate sequence, Jabal Hafit, UAE-Oman

Abstract

SENTINEL-2 remote sensing data for Jabal Hafit mountain, south of Al Ain, UAE, were obtained for the purpose of mapping the stratigraphic units in this monotonous carbonate-dominant Lower Eocene to Oligocene sequence. The data was processed using spectral reflectance curves collected from representative rock samples. After resampling of measured spectral curves of studied samples, guided by an algorithm to find the sensitive bands, a Principal Component-based false-colour image was obtained and then improved by Decorrelation Stretch (DS). The resulting image was interpreted in a small study area in Oman where the geology was uninterrupted by human activities. Correlation of colour bands in the study area with known stratigraphic units for the region was applied to the DS image for the entire Jabal Hafit mountain area. The results show excellent discrimination of the formations and members of the Hafit Paleogene succession. Other features revealed include the extent and lateral facies changes shown by these units.