10.3846:gac.2019.3785.pdf (21.52 MB)
Statistical Analysis of the Mariana Trench Geomorphology Using R Programming Language
This paper introduces an application of R programming language for
geostatistical data processing with a case study of the Mariana Trench,
Pacific Ocean. The formation of the Mariana Trench, the deepest among
all hadal oceanic depth trenches, is caused by complex and diverse
geomorphic factors affecting its development. Mariana Trench crosses
four tectonic plates: Mariana, Caroline, Pacific and Philippine. The
impact of the geographic location and geological fac- tors on its
geomorphology has been studied by methods of statistical analysis and
data visualization using R libraries. The methodology includes following
steps. Firstly, vector thematic data were processed in QGIS: tectonics,
bathymetry, geo- morphology and geology. Secondly, 25 cross-section
profiles were drawn across the trench. The length of each profile is
1000-km. The attribute information has been derived from each profile
and stored in a table containing coordinates, depths and thematic
information. Finally, this table was processed by methods of the
statistical analysis on R. The programming codes and graphical results
are presented. The results include geospatial comparative analysis and
estimated effects of the data distribution by tectonic plates: slope
angle, igneous volcanic areas and depths. The innovativeness of this
paper consists in a cross-disciplinary approach combining GIS,
statistical analysis and R programming.