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Sullivan, K. D.

Publications and source records attributed to Sullivan, K. D..

Geological, structural, and geomorphological analyses from SIR-B

A Shuttle Imaging Radar-B (SIR-B) study designed to develop a better understanding of the application of radar in geological studies is described. The specific objectives for deltaic environments include the examination of delta morphology and the intertidal zone, the surface expression of shallow bathymetry, the characterization of vegetation cover, and the water balance of the delta. In impact crater environments, the goals include the establishment of the radar characteristics of exposed craters and the application of this knowledge to test for the detectability of very poorly exposed craters.

Head, J. W., III↗

The newfoundland basin - Ocean-continent boundary and Mesozoic seafloor spreading history

It is pointed out that over the past 15 years there has been considerable progress in the refinement of predrift fits and seafloor spreading models of the North Atlantic. With the widespread acceptance of these basic models has come increasing interest in resolution of specific paleogeographic and kinematic problems. Two such problems are the initial position of Iberia with respect to North America and the geometry and chronology of early (pre-80 m.y.) relative motions between these two plates. The present investigation is concerned with geophysical data from numerous Bedford Institute/Dalhousie University cruises to the Newfoundland Basin which were undrtaken to determine the location of the ocean-continent boundary (OCB) and the Mesozoic spreading history on the western side. From the examination of magnetic data in the Newfoundland Basin, the OCB east of the Grand Banks is defined as the seaward limit of the 'smooth' magnetic domain which characterizes the surrounding continental shelves. A substantial improvement in Iberia-North America paleographic reconstructions is achieved.

Sullivan, K. D.↗

Radar and infrared remote sensing of geothermal features at Pilgrim Springs, Alaska

High-altitude radar and thermal imagery collected by the NASA research aircraft WB57F were used to examine the structural setting and distribution of radiant temperatures of geothermal anomalies in the Pilgrim Springs, Alaska area. Like-polarized radar imagery with perpendicular look directions provides the best structural data for lineament analysis, although more than half the mapped lineaments are easily detectable on conventional aerial photography. Radiometer data and imagery from a thermal scanner were used to evaluate radiant surface temperatures, which ranged from 3 to 17 C. The evening imagery, which utilized density-slicing techniques, detected thermal anomalies associated with geothermal heat sources. The study indicates that high-altitude predawn thermal imagery may be able to locate relatively large areas of hot ground in site-specific studies in the vegetated Alaskan terrain. This imagery will probably not detect gentle lateral gradients.

Dean, K. G.↗