The distributary channel network morphology on deltas is important for the delta evolution study because channels are the primary conduit for carrying and distributing water, sediment, and nutrients to the coast. Numerical models of river deltas and their channels have improved remarkably over the past two decades. However, the long-term (millennial scale) simulation of real delta systems remains rare. Here, we attempt to reconstruct the Lafourche Delta channel network, active 1600-600 years before present, with a simple numerical model (Moving Boundary Model for Distributary Network, MB_DCN). The model was run for 9 possible paleo basin boundaries and 6 water discharge parameterizations based on the Mississippi River discharge rate. In each case, the model produced distinguishing channel characteristics including a channel network geometry, progradation rate, and number of bifurcation. For the appropriate basin shapes, reasonable water discharge and common sediment transport parameters, MB_DCN produced a channel network that resembles the Lafourche Delta channel network morphology and progradation rates. The sediment transport nonlinearity appears to set the network geometry, the basin boundary constrains channel direction, and water discharge controls channel tip growth rate. The model produces a millennial scale channel evolution on delta, despite its simplicity.
","abstract_html":"<p>The distributary channel network morphology on deltas is important for the delta evolution study because channels are the primary conduit for carrying and distributing water, sediment, and nutrients to the coast. Numerical models of river deltas and their channels have improved remarkably over the past two decades. However, the long-term (millennial scale) simulation of real delta systems remains rare. Here, we attempt to reconstruct the Lafourche Delta channel network, active 1600-600 years before present, with a simple numerical model (Moving Boundary Model for Distributary Network, MB_DCN). The model was run for 9 possible paleo basin boundaries and 6 water discharge parameterizations based on the Mississippi River discharge rate. In each case, the model produced distinguishing channel characteristics including a channel network geometry, progradation rate, and number of bifurcation. For the appropriate basin shapes, reasonable water discharge and common sediment transport parameters, MB_DCN produced a channel network that resembles the Lafourche Delta channel network morphology and progradation rates. The sediment transport nonlinearity appears to set the network geometry, the basin boundary constrains channel direction, and water discharge controls channel tip growth rate. The model produces a millennial scale channel evolution on delta, despite its simplicity. </p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Chun, Byong-Suk"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science in Geology (MS)","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Sharman, Glenn R.","McGilvery, T.A. \"Mac\""],"advisors":["Shaw, John B."],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2021,"date_issued":"2021-07-01T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2021-07-01T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:00:09Z","subjects":["Basin Shape","Delta","Mississippi Delta","Numerical Modeling","Sedimentary Geology","Geology","Sedimentology","Soil Science"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/4238","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Sharman, Glenn R.","McGilvery, T.A. \"Mac\""]},{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Shaw, John B."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Chun, Byong-Suk"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["2021"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2024-02-06T08:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science in Geology (MS)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Basin Shape","Delta","Mississippi Delta","Numerical Modeling","Sedimentary Geology","Geology","Sedimentology","Soil Science"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/4238"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The distributary channel network morphology on deltas is important for the delta evolution study because channels are the primary conduit for carrying and distributing water, sediment, and nutrients to the coast. Numerical models of river deltas and their channels have improved remarkably over the past two decades. However, the long-term (millennial scale) simulation of real delta systems remains rare. Here, we attempt to reconstruct the Lafourche Delta channel network, active 1600-600 years before present, with a simple numerical model (Moving Boundary Model for Distributary Network, MB_DCN). The model was run for 9 possible paleo basin boundaries and 6 water discharge parameterizations based on the Mississippi River discharge rate. In each case, the model produced distinguishing channel characteristics including a channel network geometry, progradation rate, and number of bifurcation. For the appropriate basin shapes, reasonable water discharge and common sediment transport parameters, MB_DCN produced a channel network that resembles the Lafourche Delta channel network morphology and progradation rates. The sediment transport nonlinearity appears to set the network geometry, the basin boundary constrains channel direction, and water discharge controls channel tip growth rate. The model produces a millennial scale channel evolution on delta, despite its simplicity.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Modeling the Lafourche Delta network in the Mississippi Delta Complex"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Sharman, Glenn R.","McGilvery, T.A. \"Mac\""],"dc:contributor.advisor":["Shaw, John B."],"dc:creator":["Chun, Byong-Suk"],"dc:date":["2021"],"dc:date.available":["2024-02-06T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["The distributary channel network morphology on deltas is important for the delta evolution study because channels are the primary conduit for carrying and distributing water, sediment, and nutrients to the coast. Numerical models of river deltas and their channels have improved remarkably over the past two decades. However, the long-term (millennial scale) simulation of real delta systems remains rare. Here, we attempt to reconstruct the Lafourche Delta channel network, active 1600-600 years before present, with a simple numerical model (Moving Boundary Model for Distributary Network, MB_DCN). The model was run for 9 possible paleo basin boundaries and 6 water discharge parameterizations based on the Mississippi River discharge rate. In each case, the model produced distinguishing channel characteristics including a channel network geometry, progradation rate, and number of bifurcation. For the appropriate basin shapes, reasonable water discharge and common sediment transport parameters, MB_DCN produced a channel network that resembles the Lafourche Delta channel network morphology and progradation rates. The sediment transport nonlinearity appears to set the network geometry, the basin boundary constrains channel direction, and water discharge controls channel tip growth rate. The model produces a millennial scale channel evolution on delta, despite its simplicity.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/4238"],"dc:subject":["Basin Shape","Delta","Mississippi Delta","Numerical Modeling","Sedimentary Geology","Geology","Sedimentology","Soil Science"],"dc:title":["Modeling the Lafourche Delta network in the Mississippi Delta Complex"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science in Geology (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T01:00:09Z"}