Publications

Idi, BY; Maiha, AI; Abdullahi, M (2022). Spatial mapping and monitoring thermal anomaly and radiative heat flux using Landsat-8 thermal infrared data - A case study of Lamurde hot spring, upper part of Benue trough, Nigeria. JOURNAL OF APPLIED GEOPHYSICS, 203, 104654.

Abstract
The upper Benue trough, northeastern Nigeria is characterized by prominent geologic and tectonic features of diverse scientific and economic interest. Lamurde hot spring is located within one of several deformational structures of the trough; the Lamurde anticline. In this work, we assessed the geothermal energy potential of the area using the Thermal Infra-Red (TIR) band of Landsat-8 data. We used four datasets representing the four seasons of the year to retrieve the Land Surface Temperature (LST) by converting the pixel digital numbers into LST based on the single-channel algorithm. We also used the retrieved LST to spatially map Radiative Heat Flux (RHF) based on the Stefan-Boltzmann radiation law. We validated the results by comparing the Landsat TIR-retrieved LST with MODIS LST product of the same area using a cross-validation technique. The results indicate a reliable fitting coefficient (R-2 = 0.801) and Root Mean Square Error RMSE value of 0.756 K. Although significant seasonal variation of both LST and RHF was observed, the rock outcrops associated with the hot spring high surface temperature and heat loss anomalies for all seasons of the year. Peak LST values of 43.7 degrees C, 35.6 degrees C, 29.4 degrees C, and 27.5 degrees C were respectively recorded in January, April, July, and October from the active thermal area. The average values of RHF obtained from the active thermal area are 11.78, Wm(-2), 10.76 Wm(-2), 1.22 Wm(-2) and 0.168 Wm(-2) for January, April, July and October respectively. These are much higher than the global continental value. Comparison with known active geothermal areas from different parts of the world indicates that the area has significantly high surface geothermal parameter indicators.

DOI:
10.1016/j.jappgeo.2022.104654

ISSN:
1879-1859