Storm-related rejuvenation of a northern Gulf of Mexico estuary
Apalachicola Bay, Florida, is one of the larger estuaries in the northern Gulf of Mexico, and has one of the highest sedimentation rates of any estuary in the eastern US. The massive influx of sediment from the Apalachicola River system has built an extensive delta system at the river's mouth and, in the vicinity of the delta, sedimentation rates of 10 mm/year have been measured. Analysis of bathymetric data dating back to the mid-1800s disclosed that the bay has been undergoing exceptionally rapid infilling that is still persisting. The passage of two hurricanes near the bay in 1985, however, generated high-velocity currents that scoured about 3.6 billion ft/sup 3/ of sediment from the bottom of the bay, completely changing the character of the texture of the bottom sediments and their mineralogy and heavy metal chemistry. Even more remarkable, perhaps, is the fact that over 83 million tons of sediment was carried by the currents out through one of the passes into the Gulf of Mexico. The removal of this quantity of sediment has thus returned the bay to bathymetric conditions existing in the early 1800s and has significantly extended the life of the bay.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of South Alabama, Mobile
- OSTI ID:
- 5783450
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8710198-
- Journal Information:
- AAPG (Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.) Bull.; (United States), Vol. 71:9; Conference: Gulf-Coast Association of the Geological Society and Gulf-Coast Section SEPM meeting, San Antonio, TX, USA, 28 Oct 1987
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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