Study of some factors involved in the disposal of radioactive wastes at sea

Project 142, Technical report no. 2.Oceanographic data and sedimentary samples were collected during the period May 1956 to July 1958 for the purpose of determining the oceanographic and depositional processes in the west Mississippi Delta. The relative effect of river discharge, tide, the salt wedge, wind, waves, and currents on the distribution of sediments is shown. River discharge transports sediments to the Gulf and initiates local surface currents. The inflow of Gulf water, or salt wedge, into the dredged passes is a function of discharge and tide and partially blocks the egress of bed load into the Gulf of Mexico. The eastern undredged passes are not significantly affected by the salt wedge. Wind, the dominant agent in the Delta, prevails from the east and results in a specific wave pattern and current regime. Waves from the east predominate and as a result of the east-flowing bottom current cause more sediment reworking in the east Delta than in the west Delta. The important currents in the Delta region are discharge currents, local wind currents, prevailing nearshore currents, and open-Gulf circulation. Discharge currents due to the residual momentum of the discharging river water transport sediment into the Gulf. They are deflected by the local wind current. Westerly nearshore surface currents prevail and are responsible for the westward transport of suspended sediment from both sides of the Delta. They also initiate clockwise circulation in the west Delta bight. The north-flowing Yucatan current of the open-Gulf circulation bifurcates south of the Delta into east and west components which in shallow water appear to extend to the bottom.