Detection of seafloor channels using Bathymetry data in Geographical Information Systems

Hydrological analysis in GIS of hypsometric data detects streams and channels based on the resolution of input data. This has been depicted for onland terrains for automatic detection of streams and channels. However, such techniques can be applied to bathymetry data over the sea to detect channel systems which extend from where rivers terminate at the shore. The main purpose of this study was to use General Bathymetric Charts of the Oceans (GEBCO) bathymetry data detection of channels in the Arabian Sea, western India. This article demonstrated the processing of bathymetry data for hydrographical network analysis and deduces seafloor channels which extend from the shelf to the abyssal plains. Existence of such channels impacts the fact that seafloor sedimentation transport along these channels contribute to depositional environments which act as source kitchen and reservoir for biogenic oil and gas reserves, discovery of which could change the energy scenario of the world.