Symposium on Remote Sensing for Resources Development and Environmental Management / Enschede / August 1986 
653 
Detecting and mapping of different volcanic stages and other 
geomorphic features by Landsat images in ‘Katakekaumene’, 
Western Turkey 
F.Sancar Ozaner 
MTA Jeologi Etüd/eri D aire si, Ankara, Turkey 
ABSTRACT: Kula and its surroundings which is located in Western Turkey has been chosen for the study. Some geological and geomorp- 
hological units which were differentiated by this study have already been mapped by different researchers. The aim of the study is to prove 
that, some of the units which were mapped by long and expensive field works already, could also differantiated on the Landsat images. 
The boundries of three eruption stages of basaltic rocks on the southern part, and andesitic rocks on the northern part were mapped. 
Shifting of the eruption sites from north to south, and, changing of the volcanics from andesitic type to basaltic,have been detected on the 
Landsat images. Thus, new targets related to further earthquake studies become evident. 
1. INTRODUCTION 
The study area have already been worked by numbers of research 
es. A well known historian, Strabon, visited the area before birth 
of Christ and named Kula basalts as "Katakekaumane". Later on, 
(Philippson 1913), (Canet and Jaoul 1946), (Beekman 1964), (Bergo 
1964), (Erin? 1970), (§enol and Karabiyikoglu 1977),(Ercan et al 
1977,1980), (Bircan et al 1982), (Ozaner 1984), worked and mapp 
ed the area. Some of these researches focused their attention espe 
cially on mapping of Kula basalts, while the others also mapped 
sedimentological, geological and geomorphological features of the 
area. The auther first used Landsat images of the area, involving 
with the project, (Bircan et al 1982), and realized that most of the 
features which had already been mapped are also detectible,— in 
some cases more accurately mappeble— on Landsat imagery. In 
Addition, synoptic view advantage of Landsat images has created 
fruitful conclusions for the tectonics of the area which are not 
contradict to global plate tectonic results of Western Turkey. The 
author helped and partly quided to the study of Hakim (1983) at 
this part of the country. 
2. INTERPRETATION 
Landsat image interpretation has been made on the image which 
was recorded on 16 September 1975. 1: 500.000 scale of Band 5, 
Band 7, and colour composite image, and 1: 35.000 scale aerial 
photographs of the area were used during interpretation. Colour 
compasite image was not printed for abstaining from extra expens 
es of publication. 
As above mentioned, volcanic terrain units are the most striking 
features of the images. For this reason, interpretation will start 
with these units. In the north of the imagery, two giant andesitic- 
riolitic heaps, namely Asi Tepe and Yagci Dag, are very distinct 
forms by its circular shape, relief impression and radial drainage 
patterns. Due to fact that andesitic lavas are less fluid than basalt 
ic lavas, it gives a mass morphology. The visual impressions of the 
ruggedness was formed by differences of illumunation of the slopes 
which were transformed into different grey tones. There is not an 
absolute age for this rocks. However it is estimated to be of Early 
Upper Miocene (Ercan et al. 1977). 
Approximately, at the centre of Landsat image (in other words: 
southern part of andesitic heaps), a well known "Katakekaumane" 
is located. Here, three main basaltic eruption phases could be 
mapped by typical image characteristics, such as grey tone differ 
ences, site and shape. 
The first stage basaltic lavas take place at the southern part of 
older basalts. This intermediate lavas do not show circular shape, 
because they have not been severely dissected yet.Thus, they don't 
show morphological impression. However, they do show a distinct 
dark grey tone which starts at close to watersheds and are bounded 
with Gediz River. In Band 7, and in coloured composite image, this 
site effect assisted to the interpreter for coming the conclusion 
that they had been formed by flows of fluid lavas. The boundries 
of this stage are seen clearly in Band 7 and in colour composite 
image. In Band 5, very dark grey tone at point A, reflects vegeteta- 
tion on limestones and confuses the boundry. Vegetation appears 
red in color compasite image and clears the problem. In aerial 
photos, under steoroscopic view, these two volcanic phases are 
easily discriminated by their different altitudes, which represent 
total erosion between two eruption times. Most of craters and co 
nes of this stage can be recognised on Landsat imagery. This lava 
is estimated to be of Late Upper Miocene (Ercan et al, 1985). 
First and second lavas appears with naphta colour in colour compo 
site image. 
Recent basaltic flows appear with three distinct black patches in 
Landsat images. In Band 7 and 5 and in colour composite image 
there is not any difference between lake of dam and third stage of 
lavas, from the point of colour. Site effect which has the same