Coastal mudflat accretion under energetic conditions, Louisiana chenier-plain coast, USA

Draut, Amy E.; Kineke, Gail C.; Huh, Oscar K.; Grymes, John M.; Westphal, Karen A.; Moeller, Christopher C.

doi:10.1016/j.margeo.2004.10.033

Cited by 56 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Mudflat accretion on the CP is linked to high-energy events (cold front passages, storms) when the mud is transported onshore (Roberts et al, 1989;Draut et al, 2005a). It has long been assumed Russell and Howe, 1935) that when the western part of the MDP (within ∼ 100 km from the CP) is active, more mud can reach the CP than when the eastern part is active (the present Mississippi River mouth is located ∼ 350 km from the CP).…”

Section: Conceptual Models Of Interlinked Chenier Plain Andmentioning

confidence: 99%

Late Holocene evolution of a coupled, mud-dominated delta plain–chenier plain system, coastal Louisiana, USA

Hijma

Shen

Törnqvist³

et al. 2017

Earth Surf. Dynam.

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Abstract. Major deltas and their adjacent coastal plains are commonly linked by means of coast-parallel fluxes of water, sediment, and nutrients. Observations of the evolution of these interlinked systems over centennial to millennial timescales are essential to understand the interaction between point sources of sediment discharge (i.e. deltaic distributaries) and adjacent coastal plains across large spatial (i.e. hundreds of kilometres) scales. This information is needed to constrain future generations of numerical models to predict coastal evolution in relation to climate change and other human activities. Here we examine the coastal plain (Chenier Plain, CP) adjacent to the Mississippi River delta, one of the world's largest deltas. We use a refined chronology based on 22 new optically stimulated luminescence and 22 new radiocarbon ages to test the hypothesis that cyclic Mississippi subdelta shifting has influenced the evolution of the adjacent CP. We show that over the past 3 kyr, accumulation rates in the CP were generally 0-1 Mt yr −1 . However, between 1.2 and 0.5 ka, when the Mississippi River shifted to a position more proximal to the CP, these rates increased to 2.9 ±1.1 Mt yr −1 or 0.5-1.5 % of the total sediment load of the Mississippi River. We conclude that CP evolution during the past 3 kyr was partly a direct consequence of shifting subdeltas, in addition to changing regional sediment sources and modest rates of relative sea-level (RSL) rise. The RSL history of the CP during this time period was constrained by new limiting data points from the base of overwash deposits associated with the cheniers.These findings have implications for Mississippi River sediment diversions that are currently being planned to restore portions of this vulnerable coast. Only if such diversions are located in the western portion of the Mississippi Delta plain could they potentially contribute to sustaining the CP shoreline. Our findings highlight the importance of a better understanding of mud-dominated shorelines that are often associated with major deltas, in light of the enormous investments in coastal management and restoration that will likely be made around the globe, now and especially later during this century.

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Section: Conceptual Models Of Interlinked Chenier Plain Andmentioning

confidence: 99%

Late Holocene evolution of a coupled, mud-dominated delta plain–chenier plain system, coastal Louisiana, USA

Hijma

Shen

Törnqvist³

et al. 2017

Earth Surf. Dynam.

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“…Both infrequent tropical cyclones in summer months and more frequent cold front passages in winter months are important in generating large, significant wave heights ($1-2 m) that play a role in resuspension and alongshore transport of sediment (Georgiou et al, 2004;Stone et al, 2004;Draut et al, 2005). Between 1901 and 1996, nine hurricanes and 15 tropical storms made landfall in southwest Louisiana and, on average, 20-30 cold fronts a year pass through coastal Louisiana (Roberts et al, 1989;Stone et al, 1997).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Shell bed tempestites in the Chenier Plain of Louisiana: late Holocene example and modern analogue

Williams

2011

J Quaternary Science

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Hurricane Ike's storm surge deposited a concentrated shell bed in the form of a series of coalescing washover fans over backshore sand and adjoining marshland in part of southwest Louisiana's Chenier Plain. The shell bed is a tempestite and has distinctive morphological, sedimentological and biogenic characteristics that provide a modern analogue to aid interpretation of older shell bed tempestites in the geological record. The shell bed has a wedge-shaped profile that thickens landward, is about 40 m wide, up to 27 cm thick and extends several hundred metres parallel to the shore. Shells are predominantly disarticulated valves of the common bivalve Mulinia lateralis, probably reworked and transported landward from skeletal remains offshore. The shell bed has an erosional base, is bioclast supported, normally graded and has common mud rip-up clasts. Similarities between the modern shell bed and another concentrated shell deposit, forming part of a sandy beach ridge some 1.5 km inland, suggest that the palaeo shell deposit is also a tempestite recording hurricane washover of a former shoreline 600 a ago. These findings demonstrate that the shell bed deposited by Hurricane Ike is a valuable analogue for palaeotempestological investigations and that hurricanes have likely contributed to the construction of both modern berm ridges and palaeo beach ridges on this coastal plain.

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“…Sediment transport to the shelf may be better quantified with additional data or models be-001.I6. 72 cause this preliminary estimate was based on extrapolation Previous studies have used satellite observations and field measurements to examine various aspects of resuspension, main river channel and Wax Lake Outlet (ALLISON et al sediment transport, and sedimentation in the region but have 2000; ROBERTS, ADAMS, and CUNNINGHAM, 1980). Because not attempted to model the dynamics of these processes in of the high sediment load carried by this water, the coastline detail (MOELLER et al, 1993;PEREZ et al, 2000;WHOO).…”

Section: 4nmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This region was an abandoned delta complex of have the potential to provide accurate forecasts over large the Mississippi River until the 1950s when a new episode of coastal regions, thus providing an important and cost-effecdelta building began (ROBERTS, ADAms, and CUNNINGHAM, 1980;SCHLEMON, 1975). Since the 1970s, the Atchafalaya DOI: 10.211210.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling the Circulation of the Atchafalaya Bay System during Winter Cold Front Events. Part 1: Model Description and Validation

Cobb

Keen

Walker

2008

Journal of Coastal Research

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The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to the Department of Defense, Executive Services and Communications Directorate 40704-01881 Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currently valid OMB control number. Stennis Space Center, MS 39529-5004 PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSOR/MONITOR'S ACRONYM(S)Office of Naval Research ONR 800 N. Quincy St.Arlington, VA 22217-5660 SPONSOR/MONITOR'S REPORT NUMBER(S) DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY STATEMENTApproved for public release, distribution is unlimited. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES ABSTRACTThe Atchafalaya Bay system consists of a series of 5 shallow bays in southern Louisiana (U.S.A.) that are dominated by the circulation of the Atchafalaya River plume. Winter cold fronts have a significant impact on the resuspension and transport of sediments in this region and a better understanding of the circulation during these events is absolutely necessary for determining the sediment transport patterns of the Atchafalaya Bay system and the adjacent shelf area. Understanding the circulation of this region is also crucial for environmental studies as well. This work describes the implementation of the Navy Coastal Ocean Model. SUBJECT TERMScoastal processes, Atchafalaya Bay system, river plume, salinity front, sedimetn transport, remote sensing, NCOM, cold front The Atchafalaya Bay system consists of a series of five shallow bays in southern Louisiana (U.S.A.) that are dominated by the circulation of the Atchafalaya River plume. Winter cold fronts have a significant impact on the resuspension and transport of sediments in this region, and a better understanding of the circulation during these events is absolutely necessary for determining the sediment transport patterns of the Atchafalaya Bay system and the adjacent shelf area. Understanding the circulation of this region is also crucial for environmental studies as well. This work describes the implementation of the Navy Coastal Ocean Model (NCOM), a three-dimensional numerical circulation model for tide, river, and wind-forced circulation in the Atchafalaya Bay system. The model has a cell size (Ax) of -800 m and is nested to a northern Gulf of Mexico model (Ax -5000 m), which is itself nested to the global NCOM (Ax = 1/80). Atmospheric forcing is supplied by the Navy Operational Global Atmospheric Prediction System (NO-GAPS) (Ax = 10). These models are used to simulate the hydrodynamics of the Atchafalaya Bay system and Atchafalaya river pl...

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Coastal mudflat accretion under energetic conditions, Louisiana chenier-plain coast, USA

Cited by 56 publications

References 40 publications

Late Holocene evolution of a coupled, mud-dominated delta plain–chenier plain system, coastal Louisiana, USA

Late Holocene evolution of a coupled, mud-dominated delta plain–chenier plain system, coastal Louisiana, USA

Shell bed tempestites in the Chenier Plain of Louisiana: late Holocene example and modern analogue

Modeling the Circulation of the Atchafalaya Bay System during Winter Cold Front Events. Part 1: Model Description and Validation

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