Crustal Layers In Mississippi Delta Mudflows

Hooper, James R.

doi:10.4043/3770-ms

Cited by 2 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…hurricanes can cause spectacular failures of the accumulated sediments (Bea et al, 1975;Hooper, 1980;Hooper and Suhayda, 2005).…”

Section: Gulf Of Mexico Gulf Of Mexico Gulf Of Mexicomentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mudflows along the submerged Mississippi Delta apron are part of a complex, dynamic system of sediment transport and deposition developed on the sea floor bottom ( Figure 2). Mudflow transport within the Delta generally occurs within well-defined submarine channels or gullies, spreading out onto the seafloor in deeper water to form overlapping lobes of thick, viscous silty clay (Shepard, 1955;Hooper, 1980). We delineate the region of mudflow gullies, as mapped by Coleman et al (1982), as the "mudflow transport zone" (Figure 3).…”

Section: Mudflow Hazardmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Figure 3. Delta-front landforms and relative mudslide hazard (after Hooper, 1980) For this pilot project, mudflow hazard was evaluated for the Mississippi Delta region by ranking the relative contribution of various geologic, slope, and bathymetric properties to obtain an integrated hazard map. We have applied methods developed on shore for evaluating the distribution of possible landsliding and liquefaction in response to large earthquakes (e.g.…”

Section: Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As first recognized during evaluation of the damage caused to offshore oil production in the Gulf of Mexico by Hurricane Camille in 1969, hurricanes have the potential to move massive amounts of sediment on the sea floor. Large-scale wave-induced bottom pressures created by intense hurricanes (such as Camille, Ivan, and Katrina) directly impact the sea floor, causing seafloor failures and mudflow overruns of deep-water regions from upslope sources (Hooper, 1980;Hooper and Suhayda, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The submerged delta apron therefore consists of thick, very weak sediments that are inherently unstable and vulnerable to hurricane wave-induced failure (Bea et al, 1975;Hooper, 1980). Rapid sedimentation can change the slope of the seafloor, causing oversteepening in critical areas and loading of the underlying sediments (Lindsay et al, 1984).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Pilot Study for Regionally Consistent Hazard Susceptibility Mapping of Submarine Mudslides

Hitchcock

Givler

Angell

et al. 2006

Offshore Technology Conference

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As part of our pilot MMS-funded project to delineate mudflow failures, sediments susceptible to future slope failure, and areas of relative stability in the Mississippi Delta, we have developed and tested a geomorphology-based approach to map mudflow susceptibility on the sea floor bottom. Our research is designed to provide hazard information for the siting and design of future pipelines and structures. Based on our results for a test area, and interpretation of available datasets for the Mississippi Delta region, the distribution of underwater failures and associated submarine landforms (e.g. mudflow gullies and mudflow lobes) directly reflects the complex interaction between deposition of the Mississippi River and infrequent, but highly influential, impact of waves from large hurricanes. We have used available bathymetric data to delineate areas of relative sea floor stability over the past century, areas of active mudflow transport, and areas of mudlobe deposition. Mudflow transport within the Delta generally occurs within well-defined submarine channels or gullies, spreading out onto the seafloor in deeper water to form overlapping lobes of thick, viscous silty clay. Our mapping delineates the region of mudflow gullies, as mapped by Coleman et al. (1982), as the mudflow transport zone. Local accumulation of sediment coupled with scour during mudflow transport results in highly variable and unstable conditions within the gullies. Semi-stable areas between the mudflow channels locally provide the least hazardous locations for siting of future production facilities and pipeline routing. The zone of overlapping mudlobes located downslope of the gullies is an area of recent deposition vulnerable to mudflow overruns from upslope mudflows. Comparison of our mapping to failures inferred from the post-Hurricane Ivan multibeam bathymetric data for a test area enables us to evaluate the effectiveness of the mapping. Our hazard mapping appears to have adequately characterized areas of greatest net change, including erosion within mudflow channels and deposition within mudlobes, as well as areas of minimal change ('low' hazard) associated with Hurricane Ivan.

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“…hurricanes can cause spectacular failures of the accumulated sediments (Bea et al, 1975;Hooper, 1980;Hooper and Suhayda, 2005).…”

Section: Gulf Of Mexico Gulf Of Mexico Gulf Of Mexicomentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Mudflow Hazardmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%