Mud Volcanism at the Taman Peninsula: Multiscale Analysis of Remote Sensing and Morphometric Data

Tatyana N Skrypitsyna,Olga V Gaydalenok,Denis E Beloborodov,Igor V Florinsky

doi:10.3390/rs12223763

Abstract

Mud volcanism is observed in many tectonically active regions worldwide. One of the typical areas of mud volcanic activity is the Taman Peninsula, Russia. In this article, we examine the possibilities of multiscale analysis of remote sensing and morphometric data of different origins, years, scales, and resolutions for studying mud volcanic landscapes. The research is exemplified by the central-northern margin of the Taman Peninsula, where mud volcanism has only been little studied. The data set included one arc-second gridded Advanced Land Observing Satellite World three-dimensional (3D) digital surface model (AW3D30 DSM); a Corona historical declassified satellite photography; high-resolution imagery from an unmanned aerial survey (UAS) conducted with a multi-copter drone DJI Phantom 4 Pro, as well as a series of 1-m gridded morphometric models, including 12 curvatures (minimal, maximal, mean, Gaussian, unsphericity, horizontal, vertical, difference, vertical excess, horizontal excess, accumulation, and ring one) derived from UAS-based images. The data analysis allowed us to clarify the conditions of neotectonic development in the central-northern margin of the Taman Peninsula, as well as to specify manifestations of the mud volcanism in this region. In particular, we were able to detect minor and weakly topographically expressed mud volcanic features (probably, inactive gryphons, and salses), which are hidden by long-term farming practice (e.g., ploughed and covered by soil).

Highlights

Mud volcanism, which is usually associated with the processes of deep degassing and migration of fluids, is observed in many tectonically active regions worldwide [1,2,3]
AW3D30 digital surface model (DSM) was photogrammetrically derived from 2.5-m resolution, visible-band stereo images that were acquired from the Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) in 2006–2011 [29]
AW3D30 DSM has the highest quality among free, nearly-global digital elevation models (DEMs) [30,31,32]

Summary

Introduction

Mud volcanism, which is usually associated with the processes of deep degassing and migration of fluids, is observed in many tectonically active regions worldwide [1,2,3]. One of the typical areas of mud volcanic activity is the Taman Peninsula located between the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov, and the Kerch Strait (Figure 1a) in the south-western Russia [4,5]. In this region, large and active mud volcanoes are well known (Figure 1a) and systematically studied [6,7,8]. Minor, inactive, and weakly topographically expressed mud volcanic structures are poorly mapped and understood This is because most of such features are located in arable lands, pastures, and vineyards, wherein they can be leveled and/or partly hidden, due to long-term farming practice. Knowledge on these minor structures is important for a better understanding of the dynamics and evolution of the mud volcanism and related processes

Methods

Results

Conclusion