Introduction
The mighty Mississippi River is the largest river in the United States and the fourth longest in the world. It is a backbone of commerce and transportation in the US, and it also stores one-third of the nation’s surface fresh water. Every day, with the power of the massive Mississippi River behind it, millions of gallons of water move through the continent’s largest drainage system.
A Ceaseless Flow of Water
The river has been known to push more than 600 million gallons of water per minute at times. On average, the Mississippi River flows through the 11 states that it cuts across at a rate of around 4 million gallons per second. That’s a colossal amount of water, considering that it discharges around 564 million cubic feet of water into the Gulf of Mexico each day.
Factors Affecting Water Flow
The Mississippi River is heavily dependent upon the rainfall that it receives annually. Without a steady supply of rainwater throughout the year, the river’s flow could diminish significantly. Additionally, the water from tributaries helps to maintain a consistentlevel in the river. Temperature and seasonal variability are also factors which affect the river’s flow. During the coldestmonths of winter, more snowfall can lead to an increase in water flow, while a especially hot summer can result in a decrease in waterflow due to lack of snow and rain.
Impact of Climate Change
Climate change is also thought to be a factor that is causing fluctuations in the Mississippi River’s water flow. As theglobal climate continues to warm, the evaporation rate of water in the river is increased, leading to less water flowing downstream.Warmer temperatures contribute to an increased water use in the summer months, leading to a decrease in the amount of waterflowing towards the Gulf.
Landslides & Floods
The river can be particularly dangerous when it rains heavily and landslides occur. Due to the large amount of water releasedin a short amount of time from the river and its tributaries, floods can occur and cause large amounts of damage to homes and propertyalong the river’s path.
Environmental Impact
Due to the fact that the Mississippi River is home to a huge variety of plant and animal life, any changes in the water flow canhave a major impact on the environment. Fish, amphibians, and other wildlife that depend on a steady flow of water down the river couldsuffer if the water flow were to decrease significantly.
Management
To better manage the river’s water flow, engineers have built a number of dams and levees along the Mississippi River. Bycontrolling the amount of water being released into and out of the river, engineers can help to better regulate the river’s flow. Many ofthese systems are automated, utilizing sensors and computers to monitor and adjust the flow of water.
Conclusion
The Mississippi River is a massive force of nature that carries millions of gallons of water each day. Its water flow is heavilydependent upon rainfall, temperature, and climate change and can drastically affect the environment. By utilizing dams and levees,engineers can help to better manage the river’s flow in order to reduce the risk of flooding and to better manage the environmentalsystems that depend on the river.
