Abstract
The linear pattern of a satellite MSS image is not so same as the linear topographic feature on surface landform, though the linear feature is reflected in the linear pattern of image. It is proposed that the pixels relation, a new concept, is to extract the linear pattern of image corresponding to the resolution of the satellite MSS image, and is a relationship between each pixel. 5 types of pixels relation are considered ; 1 : line reflecting of shore line, ranging hill, and valley, 2 : bright or dark line, or parallel line of dark and bright ones, 3: line linking elbows of zigzaging lines of 1 or 2, 4 : line linking isolated points and continual lines of 1 or 2, 5 : line with large width. The lines of 1 and 2 are uniquely defined only in the image with the high reproducibility. The significance of the linear pattern of image is divided into 6 classes as follows; artificial structure; the boundary between water, land, and ice; the boundary of rock facies; the line of ranging hill and valley; other geologic structure; and noise of image. South Kyushu is selected as a model field to observe the linear pattern of satellite MSS image with digital image processings. Being verified by SLAR image, air photos, geomorphological map and field surveys, the major linear topographic features on the surface are reflected in the most linear patterns of image. The major structures of pre-Neogene basements are well reflected in the linear pattern of image. It is newly suggested that a polygonal linear pattern of image indicates a cauldron of an igneous intrusion with a volcanic depression.
