@article{BrandmeierKuhlemannKrumreietal., author = {Brandmeier, Melanie and Kuhlemann, J. and Krumrei, I. and Kappler, A. and Kubik, P.W.}, title = {New challenges for tafoni research. A new approach to understand processes and weathering rates}, series = {Earth Surface Processes and Landforms}, volume = {36}, journal = {Earth Surface Processes and Landforms}, number = {6}, doi = {10.1002/esp.2112}, pages = {839 -- 852}, abstract = {Cavernous tafoni-type weathering is a common and conspicuous global feature, creating artistic sculptures, which may be relevant for geochemical budgets. Weathering processes and rates are still a matter of discussion. Field evidence in the type locality Corsica revealed no trend of size variability from the coast to subalpine elevations and the aspect of tafoni seems to be governed primarily by the directions of local fault systems and cleavage, and only subordinately by wind directions or the aspect of insulation. REM analysis of fresh tafone chips confirmed mechanical weathering by the crystallization of salts, as conchoidal fracturing of quartz is observed. The salts are only subordinately provided by sea spray, as calcium and sodium sulfates rather than halite dominate even close to the coast. Characteristic element ratios compare well with aerosols from mixed African and European air masses. Sulfates are largely derived from Sahara dust, indicated by their sulfur isotopic composition. Salt crystals form by capillary rise within the rock and subsequent crystallization in micro-cracks and at grain boundaries inside rain-protected overhangs. Siderophile bacteria identified by raster electron microscopy (REM) analysis of tafone debris contribute to accelerated weathering of biotite and tiny sulfide ore minerals. By applying 10Be-exposure dating, weathering rates of large mature tafone structures were found to be about an order of magnitude higher than those on the exposed top of the affected granite blocks.}, language = {en} } @article{BrandmeierErasmiHansenetal., author = {Brandmeier, Melanie and Erasmi, S. and Hansen, C. and H{\"o}weling, A. and Nitzsche, K. and Ohlendorf, T. and Mamani, M. and W{\"o}rner, G.}, title = {Mapping patterns of mineral alteration in volcanic terrains using ASTER data and field spectrometry in Southern Peru}, series = {Journal of South American Earth Sciences}, volume = {48}, journal = {Journal of South American Earth Sciences}, issn = {0895-9811}, doi = {10.1016/j.jsames.2013.09.011}, pages = {296 -- 314}, abstract = {Because formation of ore deposits is linked to volcanic and post-volcanic processes, an understanding of alteration style in volcanic regions has important applications in economic geology. We use ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) data and field spectrometry for mineral mapping in selected Miocene to Quaternary volcanic areas in Southern Peru to better characterize and understand the Tertiary volcanic evolution in this region. Our goal is to characterize volcanic regions near Puquio (Ayacucho) by correlating areas of intense alteration and related ignimbrite outflow sheets. In particular, we spectrally and mineralogically map different types and intensities of alteration based on remote sensing and ground-truth data. ASTER ratio images, alteration indices and false color composites were used to select ground-training areas for sample collection and field spectrometry. Alteration samples were characterized geochemically, mineralogically and spectrally. Absorption features correlate with chemical properties (e.g. iron content). Hyperspectral data from field spectrometry allow identification of important alteration minerals such as kaolinite and smectite. Alteration mineral assemblages range from silicic to argillic to "zeolite-type". Using a support vector machine classification (SVM) algorithm on ASTER data, we mapped the different types and intensities of alteration, along with unaltered ignimbrite and lava flows with an accuracy of 80\%. We propose a preliminary model for the interpretation of alteration settings, discuss the potential eruption sites of the ignimbrites in the region and, propose pH and temperature estimates for the respective classes based on the mineral assemblages identified.}, language = {en} } @article{SzekelyKomaKaratsonetal., author = {Sz{\´e}kely, Bal{\´a}zs and Koma, Zs{\´o}fia and Kar{\´a}tson, D{\´a}vid and Dorninger, Peter and W{\"o}rner, Gerhard and Brandmeier, Melanie and Nothegger, Clemens}, title = {Automated recognition of quasi-planar ignimbrite sheets as paleosurfaces via robust segmentation of digital elevation models: an example from the Central Andes}, series = {Earth Surface Processes and Landforms}, volume = {39}, journal = {Earth Surface Processes and Landforms}, number = {10}, issn = {1096-9837}, doi = {10.1002/esp.3606}, pages = {1386 -- 1399}, abstract = {Quasi-planar morphological surfaces may become dissected or degraded with time, but still retain original features related to their geologic-geomorphic origin. To decipher the information hidden in the relief, recognition of such features is required, possibly in an automated manner. In our study, using Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) digital elevation model (DEM), an existing algorithm has been adapted to recognize quasi-planar features fulfilling specified criteria. The method has been applied to a study area of the Central Andes with Miocene to Quaternary volcanic edifices, tilted ignimbrite surfaces, and basin-filling sediments. The result is a surface segmentation, whereas non-planar features (gullies, tectonic faults, etc.) are sorted out. The main types of geomorphic features that can be distinguished and interpreted are as follows. (1) The west-dipping western margin of the Altiplano is differentiated into segments of the lower sedimentary cover that of increased erosion by tectonic steepening at intermediate levels, and an upper plane with limited erosion. (2) In the central part of the Western Cordillera, the Oxaya ignimbrite block shows a 'striped' bulging pattern that results from a smoothly changing surface dip. This pattern is due to continuous folding/warping of the ignimbrite block possibly related to gravitational movements. (3) To the west, large, uniform planes correspond to flat, smooth, tectonically undisturbed surfaces of young sedimentary cover of the Central Basin. (4) The evolution of Taapaca volcanoes with sector collapse events and cone-building phases is shown by several segments with overlapping clastic aprons. (5) To the east, on the western margin of the Altiplano, young intermontane basins filled by Upper Miocene sediments show progressively increasing dip toward basin margins, reflected by a circular pattern of the segmentation planes. We show that the segmentation models provide meaningful images and additional information for geomorphometric analysis that can be interpreted in terms of geological and surface evolution models.}, language = {en} } @article{FreymuthBrandmeierWoerner, author = {Freymuth, Heye and Brandmeier, Melanie and W{\"o}rner, Gerhard}, title = {The origin and crust/mantle mass balance of Central Andean ignimbrite magmatism constrained by oxygen and strontium isotopes and erupted volumes}, series = {Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology}, volume = {169}, journal = {Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology}, number = {6}, issn = {1432-0967}, doi = {10.1007/s00410-015-1152-5}, pages = {58 -- 58}, abstract = {Volcanism during the Neogene in the Central Volcanic Zone (CVZ) of the Andes produced (1) stratovolcanoes, (2) rhyodacitic to rhyolitic ignimbrites which reach volumes of generally less than 300 km3 and (3) large-volume monotonous dacitic ignimbrites of up to several thousand cubic kilometres. We present models for the origin of these magma types using O and Sr isotopes to constrain crust/mantle proportions for the large-volume ignimbrites and explore the relationship to the evolution of the Andean crust. Oxygen isotope ratios were measured on phenocrysts in order to avoid the effects of secondary alteration. Our results show a complete overlap in the Sr-O isotope compositions of lavas from stratovolcanoes and low-volume rhyolitic ignimbrites as well as older (>9 Ma) large-volume dacitic ignimbrites. This suggests that the mass balance of crustal and mantle components are largely similar. By contrast, younger (<10 Ma) large-volume dacitic ignimbrites from the southern portion of the Central Andes have distinctly more radiogenic Sr and heavier O isotopes and thus contrast with older dacitic ignimbrites in northernmost Chile and southern Peru. Results of assimilation and fractional crystallization (AFC) models show that the largest chemical changes occur in the lower crust where magmas acquire a base-level geochemical signature that is later modified by middle to upper crustal AFC. Using geospatial analysis, we estimated the volume of these ignimbrite deposits throughout the Central Andes during the Neogene and examined the spatiotemporal pattern of so-called ignimbrite flare-ups. We observe a N-S migration of maximum ages of the onset of large-volume "ignimbrite pulses" through time: Major pulses occurred at 19-24 Ma (e.g. Oxaya, Nazca Group), 13-14 Ma (e.g. Huaylillas and Altos de Pica ignimbrites) and <10 Ma (Altiplano and Puna ignimbrites). Such "flare-ups" represent magmatic production rates of 25 to >70 km3 Ma-1 km-1 (assuming plutonic/volcanic ratios of 1:5) which are additional to, but within the order of, the arc background magmatic flux. Comparing our results to average shortening rates observed in the Andes, we observe a "lag-time" with large-volume eruptions occurring after accelerated shortening. A similar delay exists between the ignimbrite pulses and the subduction of the Juan Fernandez ridge. This is consistent with the idea that large-volume ignimbrite eruptions occurred in the wake of the N-S passage of the ridge after slab steepening has allowed hot asthenospheric mantle to ascend into and cause the melting of the mantle wedge. In our model, the older large-volume dacitic ignimbrites in the northern part of the CVZ have lower (15-37 \%) crustal contributions because they were produced at times when the Central Andean crust was thinner and colder, and large-scale melting in the middle crust could not be achieved. Younger ignimbrite flare-ups further south (<10 Ma, >22°S) formed with a significantly higher crustal contribution (22-68 \%) because at that time the Andean crust was thicker and hotter and, therefore primed for more extensive crustal melting. The rhyolitic lower-volume ignimbrites are more equally distributed in the CVZ in time and space and are produced by mechanisms similar to those operating below large stratovolcanoes, but at times of higher melt fluxes from the mantle wedge.}, language = {en} } @article{ZimmermannBrandmeierAndreanietal., author = {Zimmermann, Robert and Brandmeier, Melanie and Andreani, Louis and Mhopjeni, Kombada and Gloaguen, Richard}, title = {Remote Sensing Exploration of Nb-Ta-LREE-Enriched Carbonatite (Epembe/Namibia)}, series = {Remote Sensing}, volume = {8}, journal = {Remote Sensing}, number = {8}, issn = {2072-4292}, doi = {10.3390/rs8080620}, pages = {620 -- 620}, language = {en} } @article{WesselBrandmeierTiede, author = {Wessel, Mathias and Brandmeier, Melanie and Tiede, Dirk}, title = {Evaluation of Different Machine Learning Algorithms for Scalable Classification of Tree Types and Tree Species Based on Sentinel-2 Data}, series = {Remote Sensing}, volume = {10}, journal = {Remote Sensing}, number = {9}, issn = {2072-4292}, doi = {10.3390/rs10091419}, pages = {1419 -- 1419}, language = {en} } @article{HamdiBrandmeierStraub, author = {Hamdi, Zayd Mahmoud and Brandmeier, Melanie and Straub, Christoph}, title = {Forest Damage Assessment Using Deep Learning on High Resolution Remote Sensing Data}, series = {Remote Sensing}, volume = {11}, journal = {Remote Sensing}, number = {17}, issn = {2072-4292}, doi = {10.3390/rs11171976}, pages = {1976 -- 1976}, language = {en} } @article{DeigeleBrandmeierStraub, author = {Deigele, Wolfgang and Brandmeier, Melanie and Straub, Christoph}, title = {A Hierarchical Deep-Learning Approach for Rapid Windthrow Detection on PlanetScope and High-Resolution Aerial Image Data}, series = {Remote Sensing}, volume = {12}, journal = {Remote Sensing}, number = {13}, issn = {2072-4292}, doi = {10.3390/rs12132121}, pages = {2121 -- 2121}, abstract = {Forest damage due to storms causes economic loss and requires a fast response to prevent further damage such as bark beetle infestations. By using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) in conjunction with a GIS, we aim at completely streamlining the detection and mapping process for forest agencies. We developed and tested different CNNs for rapid windthrow detection based on PlanetScope satellite data and high-resolution aerial image data. Depending on the meteorological situation after the storm, PlanetScope data might be rapidly available due to its high temporal resolution, while the acquisition of high-resolution airborne data often takes weeks to a month and is, therefore, used in a second step for more detailed mapping. The study area is located in Bavaria, Germany (ca. 165 km2), and labels for damaged areas were provided by the Bavarian State Institute of Forestry (LWF). Modifications of a U-Net architecture were compared to other approaches using transfer learning (e.g., VGG19) to find the most efficient architecture for the task on both datasets while keeping the computational time low. A custom implementation of U-Net proved to be more accurate than transfer learning, especially on medium (3 m) resolution PlanetScope imagery (intersection over union score (IoU) 0.55) where transfer learning completely failed. Results for transfer learning based on VGG19 on high-resolution aerial image data are comparable to results from the custom U-Net architecture (IoU 0.76 vs. 0.73). When using both architectures on a dataset from a different area (located in Hesse, Germany), however, we find that the custom implementations have problems generalizing on aerial image data while VGG19 still detects most damage in these images. For PlanetScope data, VGG19 again fails while U-Net achieves reasonable mappings. Results highlight the potential of Deep Learning algorithms to detect damaged areas with an IoU of 0.73 on airborne data and 0.55 on Planet Dove data. The proposed workflow with complete integration into ArcGIS is well-suited for rapid first assessments after a storm event that allows for better planning of the flight campaign followed by detailed mapping in a second stage.}, language = {en} } @incollection{BrandmeierWessel, author = {Brandmeier, Melanie and Wessel, M.}, title = {Workflows f{\"u}r Bilddaten und Big Data Analytics - Das Potenzial von Sentinel-2-Daten zur Baumartenklassifizierung}, series = {Fl{\"a}chennutzungsmonitoring. IX: Nachhaltigkeit der Siedlungs- und Verkehrsentwicklung?}, booktitle = {Fl{\"a}chennutzungsmonitoring. IX: Nachhaltigkeit der Siedlungs- und Verkehrsentwicklung?}, number = {Band 73}, editor = {Meinel, Gotthard and Schumacher, Ulrich and Schwarz, Steffen and Richter, Benjamin and f{\"u}r {\"O}kologische Raumentwicklung, Leibniz-Institut}, publisher = {Rhombos}, address = {Berlin}, isbn = {978-3-944101-73-6}, pages = {135 -- 142}, language = {de} } @article{Brandmeier, author = {Brandmeier, Melanie}, title = {Remote sensing of Carhuarazo volcanic complex using ASTER imagery in Southern Peru to detect alteration zones and volcanic structures - a combined approach of image processing in ENVI and ArcGIS/ArcScene}, series = {Geocarto International}, volume = {25}, journal = {Geocarto International}, number = {8}, issn = {1010-6049}, doi = {10.1080/10106049.2010.519787}, pages = {629 -- 648}, language = {en} }