Morphodynamics of Deltas under the Influence of Humans
Dr. James Syvitski, Professor of Geological Sciences, Univ. of Colorado at Boulder, and Director of the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research
Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies
Bowers Auditorium, Sage Hall
205 Prospect Street
New Haven, Connecticut
Lecture open to the university community.
Abstract: Hundreds of millions of people occupy river deltas, and human engineering through flood control and irrigation projects now controls the nature and evolution of many of the world’s deltas. Geoscientists are often unaware of the magnitude of human influence. Today’s deltas are no longer in equilibrium between the supply of sediment and sediment dispersal by waves and tides. Sediment supply is much reduced with the construction of numerous reservoirs in the hinterland. The area of a river delta depends on the volume of water and sediment delivered by its river. With reduced sediment supply, most deltas are expected to or are already shrinking in size.
Bowers Auditorium, Sage Hall
205 Prospect Street
New Haven, Connecticut
Lecture open to the university community.
Abstract: Hundreds of millions of people occupy river deltas, and human engineering through flood control and irrigation projects now controls the nature and evolution of many of the world’s deltas. Geoscientists are often unaware of the magnitude of human influence. Today’s deltas are no longer in equilibrium between the supply of sediment and sediment dispersal by waves and tides. Sediment supply is much reduced with the construction of numerous reservoirs in the hinterland. The area of a river delta depends on the volume of water and sediment delivered by its river. With reduced sediment supply, most deltas are expected to or are already shrinking in size.
This talk is in conjunction with a meeting of the Scientific Steering Committee of the Land Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone (LOICZ) program and the International Council of Science (ICSU). The major goal of these groups is to assess the impact of humans and climate change on structures, functioning and services of coastal ecosystems worldwide.
For more information, contact Dr. Josef M. Pacyna.
Visiting Professor at the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.
Director, Department of Center for Ecological Economics at the Norwegian Institute for Air Research.
Email: josef.pacyna@yale.edu or
Phone: (203) 432-5475
For more information, contact Dr. Josef M. Pacyna.
Visiting Professor at the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.
Director, Department of Center for Ecological Economics at the Norwegian Institute for Air Research.
Email: josef.pacyna@yale.edu or
Phone: (203) 432-5475
