SAC_Buhrig_Metrics_V1

SAC_Buhrig_Metrics_V1 is a fully reproducible geometric and computational pipeline developed for the quantitative morphometric analysis of submarine canyons based on Bührig-type transverse metrics. The software was applied to the San Antonio Submarine Canyon (SAC), Chile, a shore-connected canyon system incising the continental margin of central Chile. However, the methodological framework is fully transferable and can be implemented in any submarine canyon worldwide, provided that bathymetric digital elevation models (DEMs), thalweg geometry, and canyon-edge delineations are available. The pipeline operationalizes Bührig-type transverse metrics through explicit geometric constructions derived from real cross-sectional profiles extracted from projected bathymetric DEMs. Unlike simplified morphometric approaches, this implementation: Does not assume symmetry Does not impose ideal orthogonality Preserves real canyon-edge asymmetry Separates conceptual metric definitions from auxiliary geometric constructions Ensures full computational traceability Implemented Metrics • Wmax — Maximum canyon width, defined as the true geometric distance between the real left and right canyon margins (P2–P3). • Dmax — Maximum canyon depth, computed vertically between the thalweg (P1) and the projected geometric intersection point (P4), preserving observed geomorphological asymmetry. • SWmax — Maximum geometric flank slope, calculated from explicitly defined key points (P1–P4) using general trigonometric relations (law of cosines), without assuming right triangles or symmetric flanks. • Wmax/Dmax — Aspect ratio (width-to-depth ratio), calculated as a derived comparative metric. Workflow Architecture The pipeline: Prepares and reprojects bathymetric DEM data Generates regular sampling points along the thalweg Constructs transverse profiles perpendicular to local canyon orientation Extracts geomorphological key points (P1–P4) Implements explicit vector-based geometric construction of P4 Computes Bührig-type morphometric metrics Performs both individual and batch geomorphological validation Produces fully traceable numerical and graphical outputs The methodology integrates Python-based automation with expert geomorphological curation in ArcGIS, ensuring compliance with high-level reproducibility standards in geomorphology. 🔹 Associated Manual This software release is formally documented in the methodological manual: Viveros Velásquez, M. A. (2026). Manual for the reproducible geometric and computational implementation of Bührig-type metrics in submarine canyons (Version 1.0.0). Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18446821 The manual provides: Explicit geometric formalization Mathematical derivations Definition of key points (P1–P4) Detailed computational workflow Validation framework Reproducibility structure It serves as the auditable methodological backbone of the pipeline Manual_metrics_Buhrig_2026_espa… . 🔹 Scope and Transferability Although initially developed and validated for the San Antonio Submarine Canyon (Chile), the geometric principles implemented in this pipeline are generalizable to: Shore-connected submarine canyons Land-detached submarine canyons Continental margin incision systems Comparative regional or global morphometric analyses The method provides a reproducible framework for: Morphometric scaling analysis Source-to-sink system evaluation Sediment bypass assessment Gravitational slope instability interpretation Comparative geomorphological studies This release resolves previous metadata validation issues related to Zenodo integration. No methodological, algorithmic, or scientific modifications have been introduced relative to earlier versions.