land area change and overview of hurricane impacts in coastal louisiana, 2004-08
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U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey
Land Area Change and Overview of Hurricane Impacts in Coastal Louisiana, 2004-08
By John A. Barras
Suggested citation:Barras, J.A., 2009, Land Area Change and Overview of Hurricane Impacts in Coastal Louisiana, 2004-08 U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3080, scale 1:250,000, 6 p. pamphlet.See pamphlet for references cited.
Presentation to accompanyScientific Investigations Map 3080
Land Area Change and Overview of Hurricane Impacts in Coastal Louisiana, 2004-08
Land Area Change and Overview of Hurricane Impacts in Coastal Louisiana, 2004-08
Deltaic Plain
Lake Pontchartrain
LakeBorgne
ChandeleurSound
BretonSound
BaratariaBay
EastBay
WestBay
TerrebonneBay
Gulf of Mexico
Land Area Change and Overview of Hurricane Impacts in Coastal Louisiana, 2004-08
Marginal Deltaic Plain
West CoteBlanche Bay
AtchafalayaBay
Vermilion Bay
Gulf of Mexico
Atch
afal
aya
Riv
er
Fres
hwat
er B
ayou
Gulf of Mexico
Land Area Change and Overview of Hurricane Impacts in Coastal Louisiana, 2004-08
Chenier Plain
Gulf of Mexico
Fres
hwat
er B
ayou
Sabi
ne L
ake
Gulf of Mexico
White Lake
Cal
casi
eu L
ake
Grand Lake
Figure 1. Net land area change by period and physiographic province in coastal Louisiana, 2004–08.
Figure 2. Net land area change in coastal Louisiana, 1956–2008. The net decrease in land area is estimated at 3,841 km2. Estimates of land area change from 1956 to 1978 and 1978 to 2004 are from Barras (2008).
Conclusion
Although the net reduction in land from 2004 to 2008 (849.5 km2) exceeds that from 1978 to 2004 (743.3 km2) (Barras, 2008), it is likely that the 2004–08 estimate will decrease given time for the coast to recover from those hurricane seasons. Nevertheless, it is likely that the cumulative loss from these hurricane seasons will remain significant. Estimation of permanent losses cannot be made until several growing seasons have passed and the transitory impacts of the hurricanes are accounted for.
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