Geothermal Potential Mapping Using Landsat 8 OLI and TIR Data in Northern Sector of Main Ethiopian Rift

Ethiopia has a significant amount of geothermal resources distributed throughout the Main Ethiopian Rift. However, the potential areas of exploration have not been yet supported through geospatial technology for geothermal power-plant development. Hence this study assess geothermal potential areas using remote sensing technology over the northern segment of the Main Ethiopian Rift. Emissivity Modulation method (EM) was adopted to retrieve surface kinetic temperature anomalies using Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) and the Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS). The surface kinetic temperature resulted with a minimum and maximum value of 21 and 45.9 0C respectively. Furthermore, the surface kinetic temperature is reclassified into categories to identify geothermal fields. The spatial distribution of surface kinetic temperature was computed with hydrothermally altered grounds derived from atmospherically corrected surface reflectance images using band ratio analysis. The highest surface temperature anomalies were found in the region of highly faulted areas, active volcanic landforms, hot springs, mud pools, fumaroles, steaming grounds and hydrothermally altered grounds. Based on the result of this study and field investigation economically feasible geothermal resource areas were found mainly in the location of Fantale volcano. Less pronounced geothermal potential areas were found near to Kone volcanic complex and Boseti volcano.