Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1979
Abstract
The Arabian Peninsula was photographed dur- ng the Apollo-Soyuz mission with a stereostrip of 21 photographs starting at the Red Sea coast at west-central Yemen and ending at Qatar, These photographs sample all the major geologic and structural provinces of the peninsula. The natural color of the photographs enables the recognition of these provinces and the detailed study of some of their features. Among the features discussed in report are the Red Sea islands and the coastline at west- central Yemen: the red-colored plains that sepa- rate the Red Sca from the crystalline massifs of the Arabian shicld; the structures, lineaments, and drainage patterns displayed by these igneous netamorphic massifs; the various desert surfaces of the scdimentary interior; and the Dukhan anticline and eolian streaks in the Qatar Peninsuia. petailed analysis of thc Apollo-Soyuz photo- graphs resulted in establishing the fol lowing facts: available charts and maps can be PPLated using le orbital photographs, particularly of cousta zones; (2) seologic maps can be by use of the natural color photographs, which delincatc major geologic icatures and thcir cnure jenistcs', (3) the photographs can be used ir erizing sand feids and classi[ying dunc forms: and (4) cnlargements of the photographs can be useful in detailed studies of small areas, such as the cityof Ad Daw ha (Doha) Qatar, and its environs.
Recommended Citation
El-Baz, Farouk. 1979. "Color of Desert Surfaces in the Arabian Peninsula." In Apollo-Soyuz Test Project Summary Science Report. Volume II: Earth Observations and Photography, NASA SP-412. El-Baz, Farouk and Warner, Delia M., editors. 285–299. Washington, D. C: NASA Scientific and Technical Information Branch.