dated historically, 

 developnent can be 

 maps. 



and much 

 traced by 



of their 

 historic 



After an initial break in the levee 

 of a major distributary during flood 

 stage, flow through the crevasse gradually 

 increases through successive floods, 

 reaches a peak of maximum deposition, 



wanes, and is cut off (Coleman 1976). As 

 a result of compaction, the crevasse 

 system is inundated by marine waters and 

 reverts to a bay environment, thus com- 

 pleting its sedimentary cycle. These 

 crevasse systems are similar to the larger 

 delta lobes but develop faster so that the 

 details of the processes responsible for 

 their fomnation can be adequately evalu- 

 ated. 



New Orleans 



. Bernard 

 delta 



Belize 

 delta 



Figure 17. Satellite image of the Mississippi Delta Region showing delta lobes of 

 different ages (NASA photograph 1973). 



19 



