Combating the Effects of Offshore Erosion

Recently, scientists have begun discovering that the seafloor is eroding in much the same way as the land loss now occurring on the coast of Louisiana. This can mean a detrimental loss in the wake of powerful waves, hurricanes, and flooding to the offshore and inland infrastructure.

The scientists are concluding that the seafloor should be considered an extension of the land loss that is prevalent on the surface. The land loss we are seeing has many negative effects when it comes to the marine ecosystem and lifecycles and could also cause underwater landslides.

According to data from the oil and gas industry and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), we are seeing a rapid decline of the Mississippi River Delta, and the natural spreading of the outlets of the Mississippi River have ceased.

A significant factor contributing to these cases of offshore erosion is the construction of levees in areas meant to be used for flood protection: these structures that were meant to help are restricting the flow of sediment that would typically build the sea floor, resulting in the severe loss of land underwater.

 

Combating Offshore Erosion

 

Based off these findings, we can most likely expect that other major river systems around the world are subject to the same fate.

Offshore erosion has devastating impacts on the delta ecosystems, and with the continued decline, we will see even more instances of affected biological, geological, and chemical processes around the world.

The offshore erosion these areas are experiencing needs to continue to be monitored closely so that new ways to handle the degradation of the seafloor can be found to help resist the erosion.

These challenges are important factors in a Submar site review. Understanding how nature works is critical to putting in place a long-term solution. Learn more about Submar offshore erosion control.