Title

A model of the effects of sedimentation rate on the stability of Mississippi Delta sediments

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-1-1993

Abstract

High sedimentation rates on the subaqueous delta of the Mississippi River create localized sediment instabilities that result in downslope movement through well-defined chutes or gullies. A simplified kinematic wave equation model that neglects second-order effects such as diffusion treats the failure mechanism as a sedimentation and slope oversteepening process and sediment motion as a propagating kinematic wave. The model allows estimation of sedimentation rates necessary to initiate slope failures for a range of observed depths of basal shear planes. Model results indicate that slope oversteepening is a viable failure mechanism and a thin surface sediment layer may be moving downslope in a slow, continuous motion. © 1993 Springer-Verlag.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Geo-Marine Letters

First Page

17

Last Page

23

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