Standardized Geomorphic Classification of Seafloor Within the United States Atlantic Canyons and Continental Margin

摘要: Accurate seafloor maps serve as a critical component for understanding marine ecosystems and guiding informed ocean management decisions. From 2004-2015, vast region of the Atlantic Ocean continental margin offshore United States has been systematically mapped using multibeam sonars. This work was done in support U.S. Extended Continental Shelf (ECS) Project baseline characterization canyons, but question remains to relevance these margin-wide data sets conservation decisions pertaining areas. study utilized an automatic segmentation approach initially identify landform features from bathymetry region, then translated results into complete coverage geomorphology utilizing Coastal Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS) define geoforms. Abyssal flats make up more than half area (53%), with slope flat class making another 30% total area. Flats any geoform (including shelf guyot flats) 83.06% Slope classes cumulative 13.26% (8.27% abyssal slopes, 3.73% 1.25% seamount slopes). While ridge comprise only 1.82% (1.03% ridges, 0.63 ridge, 0.16% ridges). Key benefits study’s semi-automated include computational efficiency large datasets, ability apply same methods regions consistent results.