When studying moving bodies of water, there are certain things that are relevant

Question

When studying moving bodies of water, there are certain things that are relevant: Streams, rivers, channels, gradients, discharge, load, and levees. In addition, floodplains, alluvium, alluvial fans, and deltas are relevant when studying water pollution and where the water in a stream might end up.

Open Google maps or your favorite web mapping program. Type in New Orleans in the location and press enter. Zoom in until you can see the Mississippi River. (Note: Use the satellite view to see actual images of Earth). Follow the river upstream and then downstream. In the Moving Water discussion, describe what is happening to cause the various physical changes in and around the river. Some things to consider: The river forms the border between Louisiana and Alabama further upstream. Along the river you see semi-circular bodies of water that seem to be disconnected from the river. Why? Also, there appear to be roads and towns along the extreme mouth of the river almost into the Gulf of Mexico. How is this possible? Use some of the terms mentioned in the first paragraph of this assignment in your discussion.

Explanation / Answer

The Mississippi River in upstream has rapid flows which forming bends in the river called meanders. In this area the river gradient is high so experiences rapid flows. Here the river also receiving water from Louisiana and Alabama catchment area to some extent by streams. Due to rapid flows the meanders cut off form main river forming semi-circular water bodies called Oxbow lakes. On both banks of the Mississippi river water occupies larger area due floods is called flood plains. The River brings lot of sediments during the flood deposits on both banks and near the mouth of the river called alluvium.

When river floods flood plains along with its water and sediments the flow speed decreases and discharges heavy loads of alluvium and forms banks on both sides of the river called Levees.

At the mouth of the Mississippi river where it meets sea the branches out into small streams. Here the gradient of the river is very slow. The loads of alluvium carried by flooding water deposits the sediments in this area there by forms low level land mass called Delta area. The soil of delta area is very fertile and so used it for agriculture. The larger flat sedimentary lands in deltaic area with stream cuttings forms alluvial fans.

The deltaic region of Mississippi river area has roads and habitations. The levees type elevated bank areas are used for roads. The alluvial fans up side areas are used for habitation and lower side areas are used for agriculture. Because levee type structures roads are constructed in areas near to river meeting the Gulf of Mexico sea

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