1 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:17,510 louisiana's delta region is a national 2 00:00:17,510 --> 00:00:17,520 louisiana's delta region is a national 3 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:19,910 louisiana's delta region is a national resource providing much of this country 4 00:00:19,910 --> 00:00:19,920 resource providing much of this country 5 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:22,070 resource providing much of this country shrimp and other fish products as well 6 00:00:22,070 --> 00:00:22,080 shrimp and other fish products as well 7 00:00:22,080 --> 00:00:24,310 shrimp and other fish products as well as oil and natural gas 8 00:00:24,310 --> 00:00:24,320 as oil and natural gas 9 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:26,310 as oil and natural gas but many of the wetlands which serve as 10 00:00:26,310 --> 00:00:26,320 but many of the wetlands which serve as 11 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:28,150 but many of the wetlands which serve as spawning grounds for its major fish 12 00:00:28,150 --> 00:00:28,160 spawning grounds for its major fish 13 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:30,550 spawning grounds for its major fish crops are rapidly disappearing 14 00:00:30,550 --> 00:00:30,560 crops are rapidly disappearing 15 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:32,389 crops are rapidly disappearing what makes the situation even more 16 00:00:32,389 --> 00:00:32,399 what makes the situation even more 17 00:00:32,399 --> 00:00:34,709 what makes the situation even more striking is that other parts of this 18 00:00:34,709 --> 00:00:34,719 striking is that other parts of this 19 00:00:34,719 --> 00:00:37,750 striking is that other parts of this same shoreline are actually growing 20 00:00:37,750 --> 00:00:37,760 same shoreline are actually growing 21 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:40,630 same shoreline are actually growing it's this dual set of circumstances that 22 00:00:40,630 --> 00:00:40,640 it's this dual set of circumstances that 23 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:42,790 it's this dual set of circumstances that has caught the attention of geologists 24 00:00:42,790 --> 00:00:42,800 has caught the attention of geologists 25 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:45,030 has caught the attention of geologists doug rickman from nasa's stennis space 26 00:00:45,030 --> 00:00:45,040 doug rickman from nasa's stennis space 27 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:47,750 doug rickman from nasa's stennis space center and louisiana state university's 28 00:00:47,750 --> 00:00:47,760 center and louisiana state university's 29 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:49,190 center and louisiana state university's oscar hugh 30 00:00:49,190 --> 00:00:49,200 oscar hugh 31 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:51,590 oscar hugh their focus today is a part of the coast 32 00:00:51,590 --> 00:00:51,600 their focus today is a part of the coast 33 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:53,910 their focus today is a part of the coast where mud is accumulating and forming 34 00:00:53,910 --> 00:00:53,920 where mud is accumulating and forming 35 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:55,110 where mud is accumulating and forming new land 36 00:00:55,110 --> 00:00:55,120 new land 37 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:57,189 new land the mud is sediment from rivers which 38 00:00:57,189 --> 00:00:57,199 the mud is sediment from rivers which 39 00:00:57,199 --> 00:00:59,990 the mud is sediment from rivers which flow into the gulf but why it's washing 40 00:00:59,990 --> 00:01:00,000 flow into the gulf but why it's washing 41 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,150 flow into the gulf but why it's washing ashore in certain areas and not in 42 00:01:02,150 --> 00:01:02,160 ashore in certain areas and not in 43 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:04,549 ashore in certain areas and not in others is not well understood 44 00:01:04,549 --> 00:01:04,559 others is not well understood 45 00:01:04,559 --> 00:01:06,950 others is not well understood that's why hue also leads expeditions 46 00:01:06,950 --> 00:01:06,960 that's why hue also leads expeditions 47 00:01:06,960 --> 00:01:09,830 that's why hue also leads expeditions into the gulf itself the ocean floor in 48 00:01:09,830 --> 00:01:09,840 into the gulf itself the ocean floor in 49 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:11,990 into the gulf itself the ocean floor in this area is essentially a broad 50 00:01:11,990 --> 00:01:12,000 this area is essentially a broad 51 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:14,710 this area is essentially a broad featureless plane of sediment deposited 52 00:01:14,710 --> 00:01:14,720 featureless plane of sediment deposited 53 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:17,510 featureless plane of sediment deposited by the echapolaya river a major branch 54 00:01:17,510 --> 00:01:17,520 by the echapolaya river a major branch 55 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:19,109 by the echapolaya river a major branch of the mississippi 56 00:01:19,109 --> 00:01:19,119 of the mississippi 57 00:01:19,119 --> 00:01:21,830 of the mississippi using a variety of techniques hugh and 58 00:01:21,830 --> 00:01:21,840 using a variety of techniques hugh and 59 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:24,149 using a variety of techniques hugh and his colleagues map the muddy bottom to 60 00:01:24,149 --> 00:01:24,159 his colleagues map the muddy bottom to 61 00:01:24,159 --> 00:01:26,230 his colleagues map the muddy bottom to determine the patterns by which sediment 62 00:01:26,230 --> 00:01:26,240 determine the patterns by which sediment 63 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:29,270 determine the patterns by which sediment moves and land is gained to manage this 64 00:01:29,270 --> 00:01:29,280 moves and land is gained to manage this 65 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:30,950 moves and land is gained to manage this environment we must understand how it 66 00:01:30,950 --> 00:01:30,960 environment we must understand how it 67 00:01:30,960 --> 00:01:33,990 environment we must understand how it naturally operates levying has gone on 68 00:01:33,990 --> 00:01:34,000 naturally operates levying has gone on 69 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:35,590 naturally operates levying has gone on uh there are locks in the control 70 00:01:35,590 --> 00:01:35,600 uh there are locks in the control 71 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:37,030 uh there are locks in the control structures going on some of these have 72 00:01:37,030 --> 00:01:37,040 structures going on some of these have 73 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:38,550 structures going on some of these have been very valuable and others have had 74 00:01:38,550 --> 00:01:38,560 been very valuable and others have had 75 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:40,870 been very valuable and others have had very serious negative consequences and 76 00:01:40,870 --> 00:01:40,880 very serious negative consequences and 77 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:42,789 very serious negative consequences and as these environments change as land is 78 00:01:42,789 --> 00:01:42,799 as these environments change as land is 79 00:01:42,799 --> 00:01:45,510 as these environments change as land is lost or land is gained or 80 00:01:45,510 --> 00:01:45,520 lost or land is gained or 81 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:47,670 lost or land is gained or land erosion takes place 82 00:01:47,670 --> 00:01:47,680 land erosion takes place 83 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:49,350 land erosion takes place it has a serious effect on the economy 84 00:01:49,350 --> 00:01:49,360 it has a serious effect on the economy 85 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:50,389 it has a serious effect on the economy here 86 00:01:50,389 --> 00:01:50,399 here 87 00:01:50,399 --> 00:01:53,030 here this scanner called cams at the nasa 88 00:01:53,030 --> 00:01:53,040 this scanner called cams at the nasa 89 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:54,710 this scanner called cams at the nasa stennis center provides another 90 00:01:54,710 --> 00:01:54,720 stennis center provides another 91 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:56,870 stennis center provides another perspective on the problem when 92 00:01:56,870 --> 00:01:56,880 perspective on the problem when 93 00:01:56,880 --> 00:01:59,030 perspective on the problem when installed on the learjet and flown over 94 00:01:59,030 --> 00:01:59,040 installed on the learjet and flown over 95 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:02,069 installed on the learjet and flown over the study site cams produces imagery 96 00:02:02,069 --> 00:02:02,079 the study site cams produces imagery 97 00:02:02,079 --> 00:02:04,789 the study site cams produces imagery which with doug rickman's expertise 98 00:02:04,789 --> 00:02:04,799 which with doug rickman's expertise 99 00:02:04,799 --> 00:02:06,870 which with doug rickman's expertise clearly shows a growing delta at the 100 00:02:06,870 --> 00:02:06,880 clearly shows a growing delta at the 101 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:08,949 clearly shows a growing delta at the mouth of the atchafalaya 102 00:02:08,949 --> 00:02:08,959 mouth of the atchafalaya 103 00:02:08,959 --> 00:02:12,070 mouth of the atchafalaya the yellow areas are exposed mud flats 104 00:02:12,070 --> 00:02:12,080 the yellow areas are exposed mud flats 105 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:15,589 the yellow areas are exposed mud flats the image on the top is from march 1987 106 00:02:15,589 --> 00:02:15,599 the image on the top is from march 1987 107 00:02:15,599 --> 00:02:17,750 the image on the top is from march 1987 below it is the same area less than a 108 00:02:17,750 --> 00:02:17,760 below it is the same area less than a 109 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:19,670 below it is the same area less than a year later 110 00:02:19,670 --> 00:02:19,680 year later 111 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:21,430 year later as rickman illustrates with this 112 00:02:21,430 --> 00:02:21,440 as rickman illustrates with this 113 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:24,470 as rickman illustrates with this geologic map of the state sediment-rich 114 00:02:24,470 --> 00:02:24,480 geologic map of the state sediment-rich 115 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:26,390 geologic map of the state sediment-rich waters from the mississippi being 116 00:02:26,390 --> 00:02:26,400 waters from the mississippi being 117 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:28,470 waters from the mississippi being channeled down the atchafalaya are 118 00:02:28,470 --> 00:02:28,480 channeled down the atchafalaya are 119 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:30,949 channeled down the atchafalaya are helping form this new delta 120 00:02:30,949 --> 00:02:30,959 helping form this new delta 121 00:02:30,959 --> 00:02:33,750 helping form this new delta the problem to the east near new orleans 122 00:02:33,750 --> 00:02:33,760 the problem to the east near new orleans 123 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:36,309 the problem to the east near new orleans is that old delta regions levied off 124 00:02:36,309 --> 00:02:36,319 is that old delta regions levied off 125 00:02:36,319 --> 00:02:38,630 is that old delta regions levied off from the mississippi to prevent flooding 126 00:02:38,630 --> 00:02:38,640 from the mississippi to prevent flooding 127 00:02:38,640 --> 00:02:39,830 from the mississippi to prevent flooding are dying 128 00:02:39,830 --> 00:02:39,840 are dying 129 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:42,470 are dying the goal is to reverse this trend or at 130 00:02:42,470 --> 00:02:42,480 the goal is to reverse this trend or at 131 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:44,470 the goal is to reverse this trend or at least prevent further damage by better 132 00:02:44,470 --> 00:02:44,480 least prevent further damage by better 133 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:47,270 least prevent further damage by better understanding sediment transport once we 134 00:02:47,270 --> 00:02:47,280 understanding sediment transport once we 135 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:49,830 understanding sediment transport once we can understand that then we can tell 136 00:02:49,830 --> 00:02:49,840 can understand that then we can tell 137 00:02:49,840 --> 00:02:52,309 can understand that then we can tell people if you do this kind of action if 138 00:02:52,309 --> 00:02:52,319 people if you do this kind of action if 139 00:02:52,319 --> 00:02:54,630 people if you do this kind of action if you put a levee here if you'd like this 140 00:02:54,630 --> 00:02:54,640 you put a levee here if you'd like this 141 00:02:54,640 --> 00:02:56,630 you put a levee here if you'd like this or if you divert the water here 142 00:02:56,630 --> 00:02:56,640 or if you divert the water here 143 00:02:56,640 --> 00:02:59,270 or if you divert the water here this is the impact you're going to have 144 00:02:59,270 --> 00:02:59,280 this is the impact you're going to have 145 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:01,670 this is the impact you're going to have this information could have applications 146 00:03:01,670 --> 00:03:01,680 this information could have applications 147 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:04,149 this information could have applications in other coastal areas around the world 148 00:03:04,149 --> 00:03:04,159 in other coastal areas around the world 149 00:03:04,159 --> 00:03:06,390 in other coastal areas around the world and provide an important model for 150 00:03:06,390 --> 00:03:06,400 and provide an important model for 151 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:08,470 and provide an important model for dealing with rising sea levels should 152 00:03:08,470 --> 00:03:08,480 dealing with rising sea levels should 153 00:03:08,480 --> 00:03:11,670 dealing with rising sea levels should global warming occur 154 00:03:11,670 --> 00:03:11,680 global warming occur 155 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:14,309 global warming occur studying louisiana's delta 156 00:03:14,309 --> 00:03:14,319 studying louisiana's delta 157 00:03:14,319 --> 00:03:17,589 studying louisiana's delta nasa and lsu teaming up to preserve an 158 00:03:17,589 --> 00:03:17,599 nasa and lsu teaming up to preserve an 159 00:03:17,599 --> 00:03:21,879 nasa and lsu teaming up to preserve an important national resource