Exploring the Link
The Mississippi River, originating in Minnesota, is one of the largest rivers in the United States, draining waters from 31 states before it reaches the Gulf of Mexico. With around 30% of the nation’s population living within the watershed of the Mississippi River, the water from this great river eventually enters the Gulf and is dispersed along America’s known coasts. According to experts, this is the result of the river’s extremely low salinity, with the waters having almost no dissolved mineral contents. As a result, scientists suggest that the waters of the Mississippi River never really mix with those of the Gulf, considering their completely different characteristics.
Mississippi River’s Waters Remain Steady
The salinity of the water remains remarkably steady throughout the course of this large river, even as it connects with various tributaries. While most of these tributaries are freshwater rivers, a few of them are slightly saline, but the salinity or saltiness of the Mississippi River’s waters remain almost unaffected, according to research conducted by the US Geological Survey. This proves that the waters of the mighty Mississippi River never truly mix with those of the Gulf of Mexico due to their different compositions.
Gulf of Mexico’s Impact
As the waters from the Mississippi River reach the Gulf, these freshwaters play a leading role in shaping the oceanic regions nearby; for instance, by controlling the mixing of the Gulf Stream and the Loop Current. The Loop Current originates from the Caribbean Sea and moves along the western parts of the Gulf of Mexico. As it reaches the mouth of the Mississippi River, the Loop Current is disrupted by the freshwaters from the River. In other words, the waters of the Mississippi River act as a barrier to the Loop Current, which in turn prevents oceanic waters from meshing with those of the Gulf.
Effects of the River’s Waters on the Gulf of Mexico’s Quality
The waters of the Mississippi River also keep playing an important role in increasing the quality of the Gulf of Mexico. Every year, the River carries an abundance of dissolved oxygen and this prevents hypoxia or oxygen depletion in the Gulf. Due to the mass influx of freshwater each year, the salinity of the Gulf of Mexico remains significantly reduced, which further prevents and protects the oceanic waters from getting polluted. Experts say that the natural and regular dispersion of the River’s waters in the Gulf also helps ward off any harmful effects of agriculture, suc as effecting the habitats of aquatic plants and animals.
The Mississippi River’s Presence
Research reveals that the freshwaters from the Mississippi River are evident even far away from the Gulf of Mexico. The drainage system of the River is so vast that its waters can be found in the depths of the ocean, hundreds of miles away from its mouth. This indicates that the River’s contribution to the Gulf of Mexico’s ecosystems comes from certain parts of its unconnected waters, instead of a complete blend of two distinct oceans.
Measuring the Salinity of the Waters
Measuring the salinity or total dissolved solids in the waters of the Mississippi River is a difficult and extensive process. Scientists usually carry out this job through the use of instruments that measure ionic concentrations of water, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. This way, the researchers gain a better understanding of the waters exiting this great river and how far they travel.
Filtration Process of the River
The process leading to the filtration of the Mississippi River waters is also an important factor in explaining the water from the River not being distributed throughout the Gulf. Assuming that the entirety of its waters reach the Gulf and interact with the oceanic waters may sound impressive, but in actuality, the waters remain in distinct layers, as the spring and summer make the waters in different regions of the Gulf rather stagnant. This explains why the waters of the Mississippi River do not get blended in with the oceanic waters of the Gulf.
River’s Riverine Characteristics
The waters of the Mississippi River show a classic riverine pattern; one of four water columns that are represented in hydrologic studies. Prior research indicates that these four water columns, including the main stem of the River and its distributaries, exist independently. This means that the waters from these sections are not thoroughly distributed in the Gulf, thereby helping explain why there is no direct mixing between the two oceans.
Consequences of The Mississippi River
The waters from the Mississippi River often have immense ecological and economic consequences in the areas they reach. With the delta of the River located in the Gulf of Mexico, the riverine characteristics of its waters can be studied to gain a better understanding of the oceanic life. However, considering that the River’s waters are not truly mixed with those of the Gulf’s, the consequences their presence bring could be quite minimal. As millions of gallons of freshwater enter the oceanic region every year, the presence of one single river almost becomes negligible.
Effects of Humans on the River and the Gulf
Despite the natural composition of the Mississippi River’s waters, the activities of humans in its basin have a huge impact on the Gulf of Mexico. The agricultural procedures used in the River’s basin cause the occurrence of hypoxia in the oceanic waters, indicating the presence of nitrogen and phosphorous from the River. Apart from this, human-induced modifications in the flux of sediments and the amount of freshwaters may have some sort of effects on the Gulf. In other words, the presence of humans in the basin of the Mississippi River indirectly affects the quality of the oceanic waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Advancing Technology to Determine the Salinity of the Waters
Scientists are now employing various options and tools to check the salinity, or lack thereof, of the River’s waters and its impact on the oceanic regions. According to experts, understanding the composition of waters while they travel along the River and move closer to the Gulf of Mexico can give a better insight into the nature of the two distinct oceans. This is being done through the extensive use of a Global Positioning System or GPS, as well as various geographic remedies and natural solutions.
Impact of The Mississippi River and the Gulf on Nature
The Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico offer an immensely rich variety of resources in and around the countryside, with numerous animals and plants calling this region their home. Water from the River has actively been associated with maintaining the ecosystems living in and outside the Gulf of Mexico, by reducing the effects of sedimentation processes and managing the dispersal of oceanic creatures. In other words, the occurrence of the River and the Gulf provides tremendous aid to the inhabitants of nearby areas, proving that the two oceans remain distinct and separate from each other.
The Presence of Freshwater Fish in the Gulf
Considering that the oceanic waters of the Gulf of Mexico are fairly undisturbed by the waters of the Mississippi River, the River can still be of significance to the creatures living in and around the Gulf. For instance, freshwater fish such as the blue catfish and the paddlefish usually migrate up the River in order to reach their spawning destinations, mainly the nearby oceanic habitats. Further research also indicates that the presence of these fish in the Gulf of Mexico is made possible due to the continuous presence of some freshwater particles in the combination of River and Gulf water.
The Role of the River in the Gulf
The Mississippi River may seem like a large and gracious entity, but the main purpose behind the River’s existence is to pass its very own waters into the oceanic waters of the Gulf of Mexico. This certainly does not mean that the waters from the River create a mix with those of the Gulf, because as studies indicate, the River’s waters move in many directions but still reach the Gulf in a distinct form from their origin. This helps explain why the two rivers, while similar in presence and size, remain distinct and different from each other.
