The River, the Levies, and the Future of New Orleans
Ken TabbuttApril 14, 2006
Reconstructing New Orleans: Class, Race and the Ownership
Society
Natural Geologic (and Atmospheric) Processes
•Earthquakes
•Tsunami
•Volcanic Eruptions
•Floods
•Hurricanes
•Sedimentation
•Subsidence and Uplift
•Meteorite Impacts
•Climate Change
Shake Map of Nisqually Earthquake 2/01
Natural (and unnatural) Processes
• Subsidence
• Flooding
• Hurricanes
• Sea Level
Rise
Image obtained from NASA
Natural (and unnatural) Processes
• Subsidence
• Flooding
• Hurricanes
• Sea Level
Rise
Image obtained from NASA
Subsidence
• Natural gradual subsidence of the Gulf Coast Basin and the Mississippi delta sediments (compaction and tectonic)
• Resource extraction (gasand oil)
• Lack of sediment supply
Natural (and unnatural) Processes
• Subsidence
• Flooding
• Hurricanes
• Sea Level
Rise
Image obtained from NASA
Natural (and unnatural) Processes
• Subsidence
• Flooding
• Hurricanes
• Sea Level
Rise
Image obtained from NASA
Natural (and unnatural) Processes
• Subsidence
• Flooding
• Hurricanes
• Sea Level
Rise
Image obtained from NASA
Mitigation• Engineered Solutions
Flood Control
Channelization
Floodproofing
• Social Solutions
Remove Structures
Zoning
Warning Systems
Flood Insurance (spread the cost)
• Society must understand the spatial and temporal impact of these processes in order to avoid potential hazards.
• We must weigh the long-term costs associated with these natural cycles.
• We must understand how anthropogenic practices can change the spatial and temporal nature of these cycles.
• We must understand they are dynamic systems.