The influence of terrain slope on the distribution of polymetallic nodules

Abstract:An area in the China Pioneer Area of polymetallic nodule in the East Pacific Ocean is selected as the study area,and models which reflect the relations between distribution of polymetallic nodules and the geologic factors are established by the artificial neural network BP method to probe into the influence of terrain slope on polymetallic nodules.The results show that:the terrain slope plays an more important role in affecting the distribution of polymetallic nodules as compared with longitude,latitude and depth; the polymetallic nodules are mostly distributed on the area whose slope is less than 5°;when the terrain slope is less than 5°,there is positive correlation between the abundance and the terrain,there is negative correlation between the grade and the terrain,and the abundance is negatively correlated with the grade; there is the exponential relation between the polymetallic grade and the slope,with empirical equation y=2.2495·x^-0.2166 a can expressed it.