Study the spatial variability of organic soil layer thickness within Barataria Bay marshes, Louisiana
- Louisiana State Univ. Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA (United States)
- Univ. of New Orleans, LA (United States)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Stennis Space Center, MS (United States)
Marshes convert to open water at a high rate in Louisiana. Organic layers degrade in eroding marshes. Organic accretion results in thick organic layers that help to maintain healthy marshes. Thin organic layers may be characteristic of erodible marshes that convert into open water. Thickness of the surface organic layer is a significant soil morphological feature that may indicate the status of the marsh. Soil morphology can show a significant spatial variability within marshes. Accretion rates and the landscape may be disturbed by hurricane activity, presence of channels, open water areas, and man made changes. Understanding spatial variability of organic layer thickness will enable one to delineate critical marsh areas and plan marsh management strategies. Study of multi-dimensional variability may help to understand the spatial variability of soil morphological characteristics and prominent pedogenic processes that can be related to a landscape-soil model. Thickness of surface organic layer (or depth to mineral horizon) was measured using grids at 200 m intervals established within one square mile area in saline and brackish marsh. The soils had a variable organic layer thickness over sandy or clayey alluvium. Data were used to generate thickness contour maps. Soil morphology indicated a considerable spatial variability within the saline and brackish marshes.
- OSTI ID:
- 508201
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960384-; CNN: Contract NASA/LEQSF; TRN: 97:002803-0031
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Nomadic computing and communications conference: creating a new era in mobile communications, San Jose, CA (United States), 13-15 Mar 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1997; Related Information: Is Part Of Proceedings of the fourth international conference on remote sensing for marine and coastal environments. Technology and applications: Volume II; PB: 671 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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