The geomorphology of the Chandeleur Island Wetlands

Conference · Sat Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA)

OSTI ID:5836468

Debusschere, K; Penland, S; Westphal, K ^[1]; Handley, L ^[2]; Michot, T ^[3]; Reed, D; Seal, R

---

1. Louisiana Geological Survey, Baton Rouge (USA)
2. Fish and Wildlife Service, Slidell, LA (USA)
3. Fish and Wildlife Service, Baton Rouge, LA (USA)

The Chandeleur Islands represent the largest and oldest transgressive barrier island arc in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Generated by the transgressive submergence of the St. Bernard delta complex, the Chandeleur Islands form the protective geologic framework for one of the richest areas of salt marsh and seagrass flats in Louisiana. The Chandeleur barrier island arc is 60 km long and consists of five individual islands backed by a linear, multiple bar system enclosing a shallow basin floored by extensive seagrass flats. The northern part of the Chandeleur chain is the highest in relief, elevation, width, and habitat diversity. Nonstorm morphology is predominantly a combination of continuous dunes and dune terraces. Numerous washover channels and large washover fans extend into the backbarrier environment. Further south, the island width decreases and washover flats and terraces dominate the shoreline morphology In the southernmost section, the island arc is fragmented into a series of small islands and shoals separated by tidal inlets. Between 1984 and 1989, aerial videotape, aerial photographic, and bathymetric surveys were used to map and monitor the geomorphic changes occurring along the shoreline and in backbarrier areas. The aerial videotape mapping surveys focused on the impacts of hurricanes Danny, Elena, and Juan on the geomorphology of the islands. Videotape imagery was acquired in July 1984 and in July (prestorm), August (post-Danny), September (post-Elena), and November (post-Juan) 1985. A coastal geomorphic classification was developed to map the spatial and temporal landscape changes between surveys.

• OSTI ID: 5836468
• Report Number(s): CONF-9010204--
• Conference Information: Journal Name: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (USA) Journal Volume: 74:9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
CARIBBEAN SEA
COASTAL REGIONS
DISASTERS
ECOSYSTEMS
EROSION
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
GEOMORPHOLOGY
GULF OF MEXICO
HURRICANES
ISLANDS
MAPPING
MARSHES
SEAS
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
STORMS
SURFACE WATERS
SWAMPS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
WETLANDS