Patterns and Pathways of Wetland Sedimentation and Landscape Change in Coastal Louisiana

<p>Coastal Louisiana wetlands exist in a dynamic physical environment and retracted dramatically in the last century. Here I examine the spatial and temporal variability of this landscape with an emphasis on the interactions between anthropogenic landscape modifications and geological processes.</p> <p>The Mississippi River watershed underwent drastic changes during the past 200 years, beginning with widespread land clearing and, later, large-scale reservoir construction. These modifications caused increases in suspended sediment concentrations, then sharp decreases, and have remained relatively stable since 1960. I show how changes in land area of the Mississippi River birdfoot delta reflect these fluctuations, and that they are distinct from the timing of land losses elsewhere along the coast.</p> <p>The deposition of inorganic sediments elsewhere along the coast is driven primarily by marine processes. I quantified the total amount and spatial distribution of mineral sediment following recent hurricanes and found that Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Gustav deposited an estimated 68, 48, and 21 million metric tons (MMT), respectively. I used the observed sediment deposition patterns away from the coast and storm track to estimate a long-term tropical cyclone sedimentation rate (5.6 MMT/yr) for coastal Louisiana wetlands, which accounts for the majority of inorganic sediments in soils of the abandoned delta lobes and chenier plain.</p> <p>I applied geographically weighted regression as a supplement to a traditional regression of geological and anthropogenic factors to further explore patterns of landscape variability. I found that the patterns of interior wetland loss are strongly related to the density of dredged canals, and that this relationship varies spatially. Canals closer to the coast, for example, are more strongly correlated to land loss than those found further inland.</p> <p>The research presented here raises new questions about how physical, chemical, and biological systems interact and regulate coastal systems, and how these driving factors can vary considerably over relatively short distances. The success of coastal restoration in Louisiana and elsewhere will be greatly aided if this spatial variability and remaining scientific uncertainties are included in planning and implementation schemes.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology

Grantor

Oceanography and Coastal Sciences

Year dc:date.available

2013

Author dc:creator

• Tweel, Andrew William

• sediment
• spatial analysis
• landscape ecology
• delta
• hurricane
• canal

Statement dc:rights

• withheld
• Secure the entire work for patent and/or proprietary purposes for a period of one year. Student has submitted appropriate documentation which states: During this period the copyright owner also agrees not to exercise her/his ownership rights, including public use in works, without prior authorization from LSU. At the end of the one year period, either we or LSU may request an automatic extension for one additional year. At the end of the one year secure period (or its extension, if such is requested), the work will be released for access worldwide.

Identifier

etd-04112013-114232
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/509

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.lsu.edu:gradschool_dissertations-1508