Identification of volcanic forms in a digital terrain model (DGM) of West Eifel

A Digital Terrain Model (DGM 50) of the Wesleifel area (6 degrees 26' E to 7 degrees 22' E and 50 degrees 2' N to 50 degrees 22 N) was processed with methods ofrernote sensing and digital image analysis in order to investigate the Cenozoic volcanic fields. The morphological characteristics of known volcanoes were taken as the basis for a statistical analysis of the DTM data aimed at highlighting volcanic structures. The resulting images reveal nearly all known Quaternary and part of the Tertiary volcanoes. Apart from these, similar structures are accentuated which in part are very likely to represent volcanocs not recognized before. The methods described here allow to rapidly and almost completely determining the locations and shapes of volcanoes from remote sensing data. They are thus particularly suited for poorly investigated and inaccessible areas, but yield new aspects even in intensely studied volcanic fields Such as the Westeifel.