Low Energy Coastal Environment - Mississippi Delta

Which reasons have led to the delta forming at the end of the Mississippi river in Louisiana?

• Very large sediment load

• Low energy zone

• Small tidal range

• The meanders of the river

How often is each new delta lobe created?

• 100 years

• 1000 years

• 10000 years

• 1 million years

Why do new delta lobes form?

• The volume of sediment is too large for the old lobe

• The river's path becomes longer and more difficult so it cuts a shorter route

• The energy is even lower elsewhere

What are the different types of sediment (alluvium) in the delta?

• Clay

• Silt

• Fine sand

• Pebbles

Which of these undergoes flocculation

• Clay

• Silt

• Fine sand

Give one reason for low energy in the Gulf of Mexico?

What are the Chandeleur Islands?

• Stacks

• Barrier islands

• Wetlands

• Beaches

How to barrier islands encourage beach and delta development

• They absorb energy from oncoming waves

• They provide offshore sediment for beaches and the delta

• They provide fluvial sediment

How do wetlands change over time?

• Decreasing water content, increasing sediment/soil

• Increasing water content, decreasing sediment/soil

What is the Mississippi Delta a current example of?

• An arcuate delta

• A Bird's Foot delta

• A cuspate delta