The Mississippi River is one of the longest rivers in the world and is known for its vastness and power. This river has a great impact on the surrounding environment, having a positive effect on the ecosystem, it’s agricultural output and human settlement across the region.
Flow of the river limits how much it can be used and further development of infrastructure and advancement along the route of the Mississippi River often relies on the flow of the river. How much water is flowing through the Mississippi River?
Measurement System
The amount of water flowing through the Mississippi River is measured in cubic feet per second or ‘CFS.’ This CFS measurement is obtained by adding together the flow rate at many points along the Mississippi River.
The United States Geological Survey provides a measurement of the Mississippi River flow based on the data collected from measuring points along the river. To accurately measure the flow of the Mississippi River, different methods are employed in order to account for the amount of water entering and leaving the river system at different points. The USGS has a network of gauges along the Mississipi River from which continually records river levels and flow.
In addition to river levels and flow, the USGS also gathers information such as water temperature and turbidity of the water as this can also have an effect on the flow of the river. This information gives an overview of the river health as well as serving as a benchmark in which to compare the amount of water flowing through the Mississippi River.
Average Flow of the Mississippi River
The average discharge of the Mississippi River is roughly 724,000 CFS and the highest recorded flow was 2.7 million CFS in 2019. As the surrounding areas are heavily populated it is important to understand the effects of extreme changes in flow.
When the river reaches its highest outflows, it can reach record breaking heights, flooding surrounding areas not used to such conditions. This is especially true for the Northwestern United States where heavy snow melt can cause sudden flooding in previously unharmed areas. For example, in April 2019, the USGS recorded a peak flow of 2.7 million CFS due to an extensive snow melt.
Accurate flow measurements are also important for safety and recreational activities along the Mississippi. During times of low flow, watercraft are at risk of running aground, or becoming stuck on submerged obstacles. To plan ahead and ensure safe navigation of the river accurate measurements of the flow is essential.
Flow Changes
Flow of the Mississippi River can change dramatically due to natural effects such as snow melt and long term changes due to climate change. In recent years, dry spells across the region have caused significant drops in the Mississippi River flow. In particular, the region has experienced a decrease in rain fall and snow melt causing less water to run off into the river.
In addition to this, water withdrawals for different activities can also affect the overall flow of the river. As these withdrawals are often concentrated in one area, this can cause localized effects on the flow of the river. For example, in the St. Louis area water withdrawals for agriculture and energy production have caused the flow of the river to drop by 3.2%.
Apart from human activities, prolonged drought periods across the Mississippi River region can also cause significant drops in flow. In 2012, a severe drought caused the flow of the Mississippi River to drop significantly. To aid navigation of the River, steps have been taken to ensure flow remains suitable for vessels by constructing a series of locks and dams along its route.
Flow of the Mississippi River in Context
A comparison of the flow of the Mississippi River can be made to other major rivers such as the Amazon and the Yangtze. The Amazon is known to experience significantly higher flow with annual averages of around 200,000 CFS. By comparison, the Yangtze is the longest river in Asia and can boast an average discharge of around 186,000 CFS.
While the volume of the Mississippi River is lower than that of its peers, it has various important uses. Its lengthy route gives access to many agricultural and recreational activities, such as barge transportation and fishing, and its impressive size can be seen from satellite images. It is a great source of biodiversity along its route, including iconic species such as American alligators and paddlefish.
Future of the Mississippi River
With climate change becoming an increasingly evident issue, there has been an increase in interest in the future of the Mississippi River and its flow. The USGS continue to monitor the flow, water levels and temperature of the river in order to study the effects of long term climate change.
The USGS also works in collaboration with universities along the river route and other agencies to develop research and monitoring techniques in order to better understand the Mississippi River and its changing conditions. As the amount of water flowing through the river has a significant impact, understanding changes in its flow is essential to the wellbeing of communities it touches.
Impact of the Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is firmly embedded in the culture and daily lives of those living near it. It has historically been an important economic and social hub, providing transport links and agricultural production to the area. In addition, the river serves many key ecological functions such as providing habitat for species and large scale nutrient cycling.
The effects of climate, human activities and construction have a significant impact on the health of the Mississippi River and the surrounding areas. In order to better manage and utilize its resources, a better understanding of the effcts of flow and long term changes in conditions is needed.
Conclusion
The Mississippi River has an impressive flow that is measured using cubic feet per second (CFS). The USGS gathers data from measuring points along the river in order to evaluate the flow of the Mississippi River and its changing conditions. The average flow of the Mississippi River is around 724,000 CFS and peak flows can reach around 2.7 million CFS. Human activities, such as water withdrawals and increasing climate change can cause alterations to the flow of the river and it is important to study this in order to understand and mitigate the effects on the environment and local communities.
