Thread: Can you identify?

I am trying to identify these features (the huge scars on the landscape which are 30 miles long)
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ie=UTF...25598&t=k&om=1

They are in New Mexico USA. Because Google goes into near monochrome at higher zooms in the area it is more difficult to see them at higher zooms but I found a place that you can see it
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ie=UTF...02059,0.003616

You can see the land is lighter to the south and darker to the north of the line, zoom out to confirm for yourself. Lacking vegetation perhaps?


Here's hoping I finally found the right forum where someone can answer this. :?

Just click on the first one then click on MAP and you have the answer - or am I talkintg to a bot?

I think you misunderstand, I wish to know what is the cause of the scars on the land which are some 30 miles long and some are 10 miles wide.

Thanks

Well you have called them 'scars' what evidence do you have for this? they are landscape color variations, by saying 'scars' you are putting possible ideas into peoples heads, you know like they are a different elevation to the surrounding area, when they need only be areas worn down flat to reveal crust 'crumpling' or some other geological feature.
THey mostly appear in the same general direction, perhaps you could ask Ophiolite, I think he's the resident Geology Buff. Some ancient mining activity or something else, find a town in the middle, look for a local authority in the area and email them. That'd be my route.

Google TATUM New mexico, find out about the oil fields, maybe that's what they are, left uncultivated each field outlined in shape perhaps?

Good morning,

I was rather hoping someone would just know what they are, like they were famous in America or something, like the Barringer Crater, Arizona.

A good idea to email someone local, I'll look in Lovington and Tatum for someone to ask. Maybe the airport at Lovington or the weather people.

Do you mean the ones running ENE-WSW, or the fainter lineations running NW-SE, or something else?

Hi,

There are 3 big ones all to to the West of Highway 206 the Northmost one actually crosses hwy 206 on the North side of Tatum & crosses hwy 380 to the NW of Tatum.

The northmost one is the longest at about 25miles and runs approx NE - SW.

The one below that is the smallest of the 3 big ones runs from West to spread out in the East and terminates before hwy 206 about 5 miles wide at the widest end (East)

The big one below (to the South) that runs approx WSW - ENE is about 5 miles wide at its widest to the East, and is about 15 miles long, at the WSW end of this one (the pointed end) there is a small one running North from near the same point.

There are numerous other fainter smaller ones scattered around.

I believe these are artifacts of the imaging system. The total absence of even a trace at higher magnifications supports this view, as does their total disregard for for any features, natural or man made, in the area.
The higher magnifications are not monochrome, they are I believe, different images from the smaller scale ones.
I suspect the smaller scale images are composites taken from multiple sattelite passes, at different seasons, or times of day, hence differing ground colour, or lighting conditions.
I am no expert on how google constructs these systems, but until someone comes along who is, that is my best guess.

Originally Posted by Ophiolite

I believe these are artifacts of the imaging system. The total absence of even a trace at higher magnifications supports this view, as does their total disregard for for any features, natural or man made, in the area.
The higher magnifications are not monochrome, they are I believe, different images from the smaller scale ones.
I suspect the smaller scale images are composites taken from multiple sattelite passes, at different seasons, or times of day, hence differing ground colour, or lighting conditions.
I am no expert on how google constructs these systems, but until someone comes along who is, that is my best guess.

THere are many oil fields in the area, if you go to higher mag there appears to be small fenced off squares with tracks leading to them, is it possible the larger 'discoloration is merely the outline of these fields? where the grsses/vegetation is 'unkempt?

I thought this would be a popular suggestion which is why I looked for evidence a higher zooms, the lack of colour at higher zooms makes it difficult to find them but I provided a second link in my OP which does show the marking at the highest zoom, if you look hard in lots of places it is possible to see them at highest zoom. However the Western half of the area is not available at high zoom.

here is another area at high zoom (but the one in my OP is best)
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ie=UTF...14462&t=h&om=1

You can see in the preview screen in the bottom right hand corner the different colours (you need to look at the blue rectangle in the centre of the preview square) these bands of colour are replicated exactly on the large screen a lighter soil compared to a darker soil in exactly the same shape as that in the small preview screen.

If I could do screen shots or knew some other method of capturing the sat images I would be able to illustrate this much easier, but for now text description is all I have.

I think the link must be taking me to a slightly different selection from the one you are getting. I cannto see subtle difference in either the preview rectangle or in the main screen of your last link.

Hi

I don't know what you see, but I find that Google maps are playing up recently.

Did you try the 2nd link in my OP? That really is unmistakeable.

Basically if the link opens up properly and you get a google picture it should be in the place I intended it to be, I just tried both links again the 2nd one from my OP opened fine for me, the link from my post 2 posts up did not open properly but the preview pane did and it was the correct location.

This link from my OP is the best one at high zoom
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ie=UTF...02059,0.003616
Can you see the picture is split along the diagonal bottom left to top right? Dark on the top half and light on the lower half.


I find that this method works best for google maps..... right click on the link select "copy shortcut" then open a new browser window and paste the shortcut into the address bar then click "Go".


I just looked at a website with maps of the area called topozone, the maps are very detailed, showing lots of the small ponds around the oil wells, and showing the oil drilling and pumping stations, and the roads and tracks all around. However nothing on the maps to indicate these features. This doesn't mean they don't exist, just means they are not featured on these maps.

I need to contact someone local or some sort of expert in USA who would know what these are. I might start with the local rag

Let us know what you find out. I still suspect an artifact of the photograpic/display process.