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MissDelta Initiative @missdeltaintiative.bsky.social · 1d

Now Mariotti and other MissDelta modelers will use the same techniques to better understand the future of the Birdsfoot

MissDelta Initiative @missdeltaintiative.bsky.social · 1d

This model represents 2500 years of evolution of a New England marsh.

Most marsh modeling is based on short term measurements, but MissDelta's Giulio Mariotti built in factors like currents and sediment movement that allowed him to represent long term growth and changes in the marsh.

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MissDelta Initiative @missdeltaintiative.bsky.social · 6d

This October, come by and see us at one of these awesome events!

MissDelta Initiative @missdeltaintiative.bsky.social · 9d

MissDelta researchers had a great time at a recent Boys at Tulane in STEM event! We 💚 coastal science!

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MissDelta Initiative @missdeltaintiative.bsky.social · 13d

This research allows MissDelta to build a stronger understanding of river conditions during saltwater intrusion, including calibrating predictive numerical models, so we can help communities in the lower Mississippi River prepare for changing conditions and build a more sustainable future.

MissDelta Initiative @missdeltaintiative.bsky.social · 13d

If the wedge progresses upstream of water intakes in Plaquemines Parish, and even the Greater New Orleans area, it can impact drinking water supplies for all communities that rely on drinking water from the Mississippi River.

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MissDelta Initiative @missdeltaintiative.bsky.social · 13d

will likely require a decision by the US Army Corps of Engineers to initiate construction of the underwater sand sill at River Mile 63.

This will mark the extraordinary 4th consecutive year the sill will be required to stop continued upstream migration of the salt wedge.

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MissDelta Initiative @missdeltaintiative.bsky.social · 13d

These observations, along with projections of falling river discharge over the next month forecast by NOAA and linked to a prolonged drought in parts of the Mississippi River Basin,

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MissDelta Initiative @missdeltaintiative.bsky.social · 13d

Researchers studied the temperature, salinity and sediment concentration of the water and the speed of the river and wedge current down the axis of the river below New Orleans. During this study the upstream toe (or tip) of the wedge was found to be around River Mile 33, below Port Sulphur.

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MissDelta Initiative @missdeltaintiative.bsky.social · 13d

MissDelta scientists hit the water last week to to map the location of the saltwater wedge encroaching up the Mississippi River.

Learn about their work ⤵️

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MissDelta Initiative @missdeltaintiative.bsky.social · 15d

Brannum says she hopes her research can help in coastal restoration. “I am most excited to use my research to guide vegetation plantings and restoration projects that leverage the benefits of vegetation to protect our coastlines.”

MissDelta Initiative @missdeltaintiative.bsky.social · 15d

She uses an acoustic doppler current profiler to measure the speed of water flow in deeper parts of the channel.

Although the ADCP and dye measure different things, she says, they “do generally agree about the system having faster water speed through the channel compared to the platform.”

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MissDelta Initiative @missdeltaintiative.bsky.social · 15d

Brannum collects water samples to measure volume of sediment.

She tracks the flow of water on the marsh platform by putting dye in, then using drones to track the flow patterns.

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MissDelta Initiative @missdeltaintiative.bsky.social · 15d

📣It’s Estuaries Week 🌱 Time to take a look at MissDelta’s work in Louisiana’s coastal marshes.

Sarah Brannum, a PhD student at LSU, wants to better understand how vegetation affects the flow of water and sediment in the marsh.

Read about her work and the methods she uses⤵️

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MissDelta Initiative @missdeltaintiative.bsky.social · 23d

MissDelta summer research in the news!

lsureveille.com/262774/news/...

LSU's Office of Undergraduate Research supports coastal research - Reveille

The LSU Office of Undergraduate Research supports a program that allows students to conduct coastal and delta research.

lsureveille.com

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Reposted by MissDelta Initiative

NOAA @noaa.gov · 28d

Even distant storms like Hurricane #Erin can pose a danger to coastal communities.

NOAA's National Weather Service provides life-saving information to keep Americans safe even in the face of unseen risks.

Read more at: noaa.gov/stories/hurr...

nws.noaa.gov

Hurricane Erin: When distant storms pose a danger to America’s coastal communities

Although the eye of Hurricane Erin was never closer than about 200 miles from the U.S. East Coast and its center never made landfall, Erin’s effects were still seen along the shoreline and felt by coa...

noaa.gov

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MissDelta Initiative @missdeltaintiative.bsky.social · Sep 5

An interesting look at an alternative to the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, proposed by MissDelta scientist Ehab Meselhe

lailluminator.com/2025/09/04/s...

Scientists see promise in ‘pulsing’ river diversion. State coastal czar says ‘It ain’t gonna work’ • Louisiana Illuminator

Ehab Meselhe, a coastal restoration scientist and professor at Tulane University, is researching a new way to operate the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion he says could be a compromise to move the pro...

lailluminator.com

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MissDelta Initiative @missdeltaintiative.bsky.social · Sep 4

Are you a MissDelta student researcher? We’d like to hear from you!

This fall we’ll be featuring the hard work and contributions of our student researchers on our social media pages.

Fill out this form to get started: forms.cloud.microsoft/r/Cqsjrtzfbh

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MissDelta Initiative @missdeltaintiative.bsky.social · Aug 21

New paper alert!

Silt and clay look the same combined in the estuarine mud of the Delta. But differentiating between them could help researchers understand delta dynamics

MissDelta's Giulio Mariotti may have found a way to do just that

doi.org/10.1016/j.cs...

#missdelta #scicomm #coastalscience

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MissDelta Initiative @missdeltaintiative.bsky.social · Aug 11

At the mouth of the Mississippi River sits one of the most important and endangered ecosystems in the country.

This piece from @pbsnews.org highlights some of the work MissDelta researchers and their colleagues are doing to understand and preserve this vulnerable area.

youtu.be/f9SUSNrl9Lo?...

Scientists face ecological and economic hurdles to save Mississippi River Delta

YouTube video by PBS NewsHour

youtu.be

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MissDelta Initiative @missdeltaintiative.bsky.social · Aug 8

Engaging scientific activities like these not only help students build their scientific knowledge, they also develop the critical thinking and analytical skills essential for the STEM workforce of tomorrow.

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MissDelta Initiative @missdeltaintiative.bsky.social · Aug 8

The activity leads into discussions of climate, and how changes in one region can affect another – for example how heavy rainfall in the Northeastern United States can impact communities living at the mouth of the Mississippi.

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MissDelta Initiative @missdeltaintiative.bsky.social · Aug 8

Participants track “rainfall” over the course of 8 months by rolling dice, and recording the results. Each roll represents one month, or “weather.” The average of those 8 rolls? Climate.

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MissDelta Initiative @missdeltaintiative.bsky.social · Aug 8

@LASeagrant has some ideas. At a MissDelta professional development held earlier this summer, K12 elementary teachers were shown an activity to help students begin to understand the concept.

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MissDelta Initiative @missdeltaintiative.bsky.social · Aug 8

How do you show elementary-age students the difference between weather and climate?

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