Quantifying the distribution and abundance of rippled scour depressions (RSDs) on the seafloor of California's continental margin using autoclassfication models
Abstract
The California Seafloor Mapping Project (CSMP) is a cooperative initiative creating a comprehensive, high-resolution (2-5m) coastal/marine geologic and habitat base map for all of California’s State waters (Mean high water to three nautical miles). This massive dataset covering > 8500 sq. km of coastal seafloor is enabling researchers to study patterns and distribution of near shore habitats and geomorphology on a scale never before possible. Data from CSMP reveal the presence of rippled scour depressions (RSD) as the most prominent features on the continental shelf. These features are found worldwide and are characterized as depressions (.4m-1m) of coarse grain sediment and long period sand waves surrounded by a fine sediment plateau. While previous studies have described the geomorphologies of RSDs and speculated on their origin, this is the first regional study describing their patterns of abundance and distribution on a scale of 1000s of km. The purpose of this study is to use auto classification methods to quantify the spatial extent and distribution of three benthic habitats (rock, sediment, RSD) within the state waters of California. Using CSMP acoustic backscatter imagery and derived bathymetric products (rugosity, bathymetric position index, and slope), we developed a habitat classification model in ArcGIS to assign benthic habitat into one of these three classes. These results will then be used to quantify and characterize spatial patterns in the distribution and abundance of these habitats along the California continental margin.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010AGUFMOS13F1311D
- Keywords:
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- 3002 MARINE GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS / Continental shelf and slope processes;
- 4219 OCEANOGRAPHY: GENERAL / Continental shelf and slope processes