Potential Mapping of Manganese Nodule in the Northeastern Pacific Area using GIS and Probability Methods

Abstract

The northeastern Pacific shows the highest nodule abundance among the oceans in the world, and thus has been drawing international attention for deep-sea manganese nodule development. The aims of this study are to construct database using geostatistics and geographic information system (GIS), to quantify rating value using probability and statistical methods, to suggest suitable sites for manganese nodule development, and to verify results. The copper and nickel contents of the nodules were determined by chemical analysis. Factors related to slope, aspect, water depth, and topography were obtained from multibeam echo sounding data. The transparent layer thickness was determined using a subbottom profiler. The probability method was used to calculate each factor's rating, and the layers for different factors were summed to produce the development potential index (DPI). Result maps were constructed for manganese nodules development. The distribution pattern of DPI showed to be controlled of nodule abundance and metal contents. Verification was performed by comparing the results with sampling data.