Date of Award

Spring 5-2018

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Program

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Department

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Major Professor

Georgiou, Ioannis

Second Advisor

Kulp, Mark

Third Advisor

Howes, Nick

Abstract

Deltas are important coastal systems throughout the world. River mouth bars are key landforms in the development of deltas, are characterized by sediment deposition, and have high potential for sediment preservation. Scientists and professionals seek to understand the discrete response of mouth bars to the various controls governing their evolution. This study utilizes the numerical modelling software Delft3D to provide additional evidence supporting the morphological and stratigraphic responses resulting from variations in basin configurations and allogenic controls (fluvial discharge, tides, basin width). Mud content within the bar increased analogous to an increase in the tidal modulation, while a decrease in the initial basin depth reduced mud content. Initial basin slope and lateral confinement had less obvious impacts on stratigraphy. Finally, variable fluvial discharge and the incorporation of realistic tidal harmonics produced similar bar morphologies (compared to simulations with constant flow and sinusoidal tides), yet demonstrated significant differences in bar stratigraphy.

Rights

The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.

Included in

Sedimentology Commons

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