Parameterization of bedform morphology and defect density with fingerprint analysis techniques
Abstract
A novel method for parameterizing the morphology of seafloor ripples with fingerprint analysis numerical techniques is presented. This fully automated analysis tool identifies rippled areas in two-dimensional imagery of the seafloor, and returns ripple orientation and wavelength as well as a new morphological parameter, the spatial density of ripple defects. In contrast to widely used manual and spectral parameterization methods, this new technique yields a unique probability distribution for each derived parameter, which describes its spatial variability across the sampled domain. Here we apply this new analysis technique to synthetic and field collected side-scan sonar seafloor images in order to assess the methods capacity to define bed geometry across a wide range of simulated and observed morphological conditions. The resulting orientation and wavelength values compare favorably with those of the existing manual and spectral parameterization methods, and are superior under environmental conditions characterized by low signal to noise ratios as well as high planform ripple sinuosity. Furthermore, the resulting ripple defect density values demonstrate correlation with ripple orientation, wave direction, and the Shields parameter, which is consistent with recent investigations that have theoretically linked this parameter to hydrodynamic forcing conditions. The presented fingerprint analysis method surpasses the capacity of existing methods for ripple parameterization and promises to yield greater insight into theoretical and applied problems associated with the temporal and spatial variability of ripple morphology across a wide spectrum of marine environments.
Department
Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping
Publication Date
10-15-2011
Volume
31, Issue 16
Journal Title
Continental Shelf Research
Pages
1688-1700
Publisher Place
New York, NY, USA
Publisher
Elsevier
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1016/j.csr.2011.07.009
Document Type
Journal Article
Recommended Citation
Adam Skarke, Arthur C. Trembanis, Parameterization of bedform morphology and defect density with fingerprint analysis techniques, Continental Shelf Research, Volume 31, Issue 16, 15 October 2011, Pages 1688-1700, ISSN 0278-4343, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.csr.2011.07.009.