Collaborative Research: Rapid: Activation of the Inner Continental Shelf In Response to the Great Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Flood of 2011

密西西比河和阿查法拉亚河正在经历一场具有重大地质意义的历史性洪水。 南路易斯安那州是地球上土地流失速度最快的地区之一，大部分损失是由于缺乏沉积物输送到沿海地区。 这场洪水很可能会向沿海地区输送大量沉积物，因此可能有助于沿着路易斯安那州南部海岸的土地建设。 这项研究是一个快速反应，调查是否在2011年5月下旬从Atchafalaya河的淡水大量释放将导致淡水为主的大陆架环境的发展，以及是否由洪水释放的沉积物将启动一个大的移动的泥带，将从Atchafalaya河口向西沿着Chenier平原海岸的发展。 目前正在通过研究内大陆架的物理和地质海洋学以及确定最近沉积的沉积物的形态来检验这些假设。 这项研究为研究海岸带生态系统中沉积物供给和土地建设的关键过程提供了难得的机会。 更广泛的影响包括支持EPSCoR州的两个机构和学生培训。

The Mississippi River and Atchafalaya River are experiencing a historic flood of major geological significance. South Louisiana has one of the fastest land loss rates on any region on Earth, with much of the loss due to a lack of sediment delivery into the coastal zone. This flood is likely to deliver large amounts of sediments to the coastal zone, and therefore could potentially contribute to land building along the South Louisiana coast. This research is a rapid response to investigate whether the massive release of freshwater from the Atchafalaya River in late May, 2011 will lead to the development of a freshwater-dominated continental shelf environment and whether sediments released by the flood will initiate the development of a large mobile mud belt that will extend from the mouth of the Atchafalaya River westward along the Chenier Plain Coast. These hypotheses are being tested by examining the physical and geological oceanography of the inner continental shelf and determining the patterns of recently deposited sediments. The proposed research provides a rare opportunity to study the critical processes of sediment supply and land building in a coastal ecosystem. Broader impacts include support of two institutions in EPSCoR states and student training.