Author Question: Explain the processes necessary to form a bird's-foot delta such as that on the Mississippi River. ... (Read 106 times)

jc611 · **on:** Jul 15, 2018

Explain the processes necessary to form a bird's-foot delta such as that on the Mississippi River.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

When Europeans moved into the region along the Lower Mississippi River around three hundred years ago, they often settled on the floodplains of the river and set up farms. Geologically, what aspect of the floodplain impacted their choice to settle there?

What will be an ideal response?

meow1234 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 15, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Answer: The stream carries large quantities of sediment downstream and deposits it where the mouth of the stream meets a large lake or the ocean. More sediment is deposited than waves can remove, so the delta grows outward. As the stream extends its channel, the gradient is reduced, resulting in lower velocity and subsequent deposition. When the stream floods, some of the flow is diverted to another, faster moving channel.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: Because floods naturally replenish sediment and nutrients through deposition, this made the land fertile. Also, the Mississippi River and its tributaries provided a natural transportation route.