The Mississippi River Delta Research Paper

The Mississippi River Delta
A research paper on the history (geologic and man made) of the Mississippi River Delta.
# 117968 | 2,881 words | 16 sources | MLA | 2009 | US
Published on Dec 27, 2009 in Geology and Geophysics (General)


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Description:

Through a study of the history of the geologic structures of the Mississippi River and delta, man's influence on the river, and the current state of the Mississippi River Delta, this paper attempts to present a balanced picture of the recently catastrophic subsidence of the region. The paper emphasizes the delta's relative sustainability and stability before human cohabitation with the delta and the subsequent deterioration of deltaic environments. The paper includes pictures and diagrams of deltas.

Outline:
Introduction
Geologic Structures of the Mississippi River and Delta
Development of the Mississippi River Delta
Human Involvement Regarding the Delta
History of Human Intervention in the Delta

From the Paper:

"Mississippi River deposits of the Holocene epoch are products of a drainage basin that covers close to 70% of the contiguous States of America, as well as 2 provinces of Canadai. Deposition in the region of the current delta began around 7000-8000 years ago after the slowing of the rise of sea levels from the melting of the Pleistocene Glacial Maximum. However, it was not until 6000 years ago that deposition began to resemble that of the contemporary delta. At 3000 years ago, the conditions in which the delta formed were similar to conditions today: the inner gulf was at a standstill, the river possessed the necessary velocity to move a delta's worth of sediment, and the Gulf was of the proper depth and grade for the formation of a delta. ii In light of the concrete distinction between Pliestocene deposits, Holocene deposits before the stabilization of ocean levels, and late Holocene deposits similar to present day deposition, my study will focus on a more contemporaneous subset of Mississippi delta deposits beginning at c.6000 years past."

Sample of Sources Used:

  • "The Delta of the Mississippi River," E.L. Corthell, National Geographic December 1897, pg 353 Shows that the negative effects of river-control attempts were known even in the 1800's.
  • Geological Society of America Bulletin, Memorial to Joseph Barrell, 1912
  • "Necessary Conditions for a Meandering River Avulsion," Geology, May 1998, Rudy Slingerland and Norman D. Smith
  • "River Avulsions and their Deposits," Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences Volume 32,pp. 257, Rudy Slingerland and Norman D. Smith, May 2004
  • "Sedimentation and Stratigraphy, Lecture 6: Deltaic Systems," P. Heller, University of Wyoming, 2009, http://faculty.gg.uwyo.edu/heller/Sed%20Strat%20Class/Sedstrat6/sedlect_6.htm

Cite this Research Paper:

APA Format

The Mississippi River Delta (2009, December 27) Retrieved March 26, 2023, from https://www.academon.com/research-paper/the-mississippi-river-delta-117968/

MLA Format

"The Mississippi River Delta" 27 December 2009. Web. 26 March. 2023. <https://www.academon.com/research-paper/the-mississippi-river-delta-117968/>

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