Daan Beelen, Lesli Joy Wood

Three types of oceanographic data are integrated in this study to predict thermohaline geostrophic bottom current deposition and erosion on the ocean floor. These data types are, 1) high-resolution bathymetry, 2) numerical model data of bottom current shear stress and 3) model data of the distribution and amount of sediment on the ocean floor. Intervals of thermohaline geostrophic bottom current deposition and erosion can be quantified from this information, which are then be extrapolated across the ocean floor in 4.5 x 9.3 km grid-size resolution. The results of this analysis are displayed on a map that shows the distribution of zones of bottom current erosion and deposition. This map is then cross-referenced for accuracy using documented examples of mapped erosional and depositional bottom current systems, which demonstrates this study’s approach has strong predictive capabilities. The model developed herein is used to derive boundaries for depositional bottom current regimes and formulate generalized patterns that contribute to bottom current erosion and deposition, and then discuss the importance of these interpretations for resource extraction and ocean floor mapping.