Coastal Land Loss in Louisiana

摘要: ABSTRACT The Mississippi River delta and chenier plains in Louisiana are experiencing catastrophic coastal land loss rates exceeding 100 km2/yr. Louisiana's zone contains 40 percent of the U. S. wetlands 80 Nation's occurs here. origin stability these environments is tied to sediments discharged by throught cycle process. Sediments accumulate well-defined complexes at approximately 800-1000 year intervals followed abandonment barrier island formation. delta-cycle process, that bulds new complexes, islands, cheniers curently stopped flood navigation control structures. These structures harness flow within a massive levee system, channeling most off continental shelf. Deprived subsiding rapidly, vanishing. Researchers have long recognized conditions occurring speculated on causes. chronic problem wetland well documented, but poorly understood. Over last decade, two schools thought developed research community concerning relative roles causal factors driving extreme change. One school emphasizes natural processes process human activities ranked as secondary importance. In contrast, other places primary importance processes. A review previous indicates only way accurately determine different types develop classification suitable for quantitatively mapping spatial distribution contribution each geomorphic type total amount given interval time.