The Mississippi River is one of the iconic waterways of North America, and its surface area is a measure of its global significance.
At 6300 kilometres, the Mississippi is the fourth longest river in the world and its watershed covers large parts of the USA and Canada. The river originates in Minnesota and flows through the Midwest and parts of the Deep South, eventually emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. The surface area of the Mississippi is the approximate area of land that is drained by the river, and is an important measure of the scale and importance of the river.
Experts typically measure the surface area of a river by calculating the areas of channels, lakes, swamps, and wetlands that make up the watershed – in this case the drainage basin of the Mississippi. Calculating the exact surface area of a river presents a challenge, since rivers are constantly changing and growing with seasonal rainfall, soil adjustments, and other factors. “Given its length and variability, the Mississippi River is difficult to measure accurately,” says hydrologist and environmental engineer, Jack Jones.
General estimates of the surface area of the Mississippi place the figure between 2.4 million and 5.8 million square kilometres. The most commonly accepted estimate of the Mississippi’s surface area is 3.2 million square kilometres. When put this way, it is clear that the Mississippi is an incredibly large river that covers an area the size of the continent of India.
With such an expansive surface area, the influence of the Mississippi is profound for the diverse ecosystem it supports, as well as for the human societies and communities along its length. The river is used to move freight and goods along its length, and it is also a source of drinking water and energy.
The Mississippi River also has a complex history. The diverse groups of people who have lived along its shores have left their mark with the river being a site battle during the American Indian Wars. In the modern era, its importance can be seen in its dramatic representation in American literature and film.
Although the surface area of the Mississippi river is an impressive figure, it is ultimately only a starting point to understanding the enormity of this iconic waterway of North America.
Surface Area of the Mississippi – Technological Advances
New technologies continue to revolutionise our approach to measuring the surface area of rivers and other water systems, creating a more accurate picture of the physical parameters of the Mississippi. With the help of innovative technology, specialists are now able to constantly measure and report on the river’s depth, temperature and other indicators throughout the year.
An example of this is Mississippi’s State Water Resource Monitoring Program, which provides water resource data for up to 20 streamgages and over seventy other monitoring sites each day. This data is used by researchers and policy makers to effectively plan for situations such as floods and droughts, not only in Mississippi, but around the country. This type of technology has enabled researchers to more accurately calculate the surface area of the Mississippi and other large geographical bodies.
Hydrologist, Dr. Janet Smith affirms this, “Technology has dramatically improved our capacity to measure rivers, allowing us to capture the necessary data to assess their surface area. This is not only beneficial for predicting and managing hydrological events, it also provides us with a better understanding of the Mississippi’s role in the environment”.
While technology has advanced our understanding of the surface area and importance of the Mississippi River, rapidly changing climate conditions present an ongoing challenge and call for further improved measurements.
Physical Characteristics and Biodiversity of the Mississippi
The incredible scale of the Mississippi’s watershed, which includes the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana, gives the river its ability to support the incredible diversity of wildlife and vegetation that depend upon it.
The important role the Mississippi plays in providing nutrients, food sources and water to the flora and fauna of the region is mirrored in the diversity of species supported by the river. From bottom-dwelling muckheaters and sturgeons to bald eagles, pelicans and mammals such as beavers and otters, the river is a vital ecosystem for these creatures to call home.
This thriving biodiversity also reveals how climate change and human behaviours both affect the ecology and surface area of the Mississippi. With increasing temperatures, more southerly areas of the United States experience extreme floods and droughts more often, thereby impacting the physical characteristics of the river. Activities such as deforestation can also impact the surface area of the river, and cause far reaching effects on the environment.
The Mississippi’s surface area may appear to be a static figure, but it is one that is ever changing due to the impact of human and environmental forces.
Environmental Challenges of the Mississippi
The vast size of the Mississippi also means that it is more vulnerable to human related damage from industrial waste, runs off from farms, untreated sewage and other pollutants that contaminate the river. Such pollution affects the form and quality of the water and is harmful to the environment and to humans.
We can see this reality today, with significant stretches of the Mississippi being unsuitable for human and wildlife contact due to excessive contamination. This has caused a significant reduction of wildlife populations and species diversity in some active areas, as well as displacement in other areas further downstream.
Urban runoff is also increasingly being identified as a major contributor to the water pollution of the Mississippi, with a renewed impetus amongst policy makers to actively manage and treat storm water runoff to reduce its impact on the river.
In an effort to addressing worsening water quality, policy makers and researchers are teaming up with local communities to create their own water monitoring systems that actively measure indicators such as pollutants, temperature and turbidity. This has allowed policy makers to more accurately locate sources of pollution, tailor more effective intervention strategies, and build a more comprehensive understanding of the river’s surface area.
Such systems have also helped local communities to create meaningful initiatives for protecting and restoring their local watersheds, indicating a growing shift for empowering communities to become active players in protecting their environment.
Environmental Management and Protection of the Mississippi
Protecting this huge body of water is critical, not only in its own right, but for the multiple species and communities that depend upon it.
In an effort to improve the reliability of measuring and managing the Mississippi’s surface area and health, Federal agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are teaming up with private sector research and development hubs.
These collaborations can take many forms, including working together to monitor water quality, assess data, develop online resources, and Create specialized networks, sensors and other environmental technologies to monitor the surface area of the river.
“We’re working to develop new systems and technologies to measure and monitor the health of rivers like the Mississippi more accurately,” states Dr. Nathan Brown, senior researcher with NOAA. “These tools are vital to give us the insights we need to protect and manage the iconic watershed so that it can continue to support the millions of people and creatures that depend upon it.”
Such technologies are testifying to the commitment of many agencies and individuals to the protection and preservation of this great river.
Impact of the Mississippi on People and Culture
Given its size and powers, it is no surprise that the Mississippi has become a major symbol of the American identity, and exists as a significant cultural bridge that has united people and communities across North America for hundreds of years.
Beyond its natural beauty, the Mississippi has been an integral part of the development of American culture, with an unparalleled legacy of literature, music, history and folklore.
The river has featured prominently in the works of American greats such as Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner, while its expansive tie to music and culture is evident with the large number of folk, blues and jazz artists connected to the Mississippi.
Non-fiction writers have also been celebrated for their work on environmental issues associated with the river and its drainage basin, such as the ongoing impact of industrial pollution, the effects of climate change, and the tension between the need for conservation and the preservation of cultural heritage.
The Mississippi River has finally become a symbol of the nation’s resilience in the face of generations of challenge and oppression, and its importance to the people and culture of this land cannot be underestimated.
Future of the Mississippi River
In modern times, the Mississippi has become a site of environmental activism and community building through the reality of its changing surface area, and its ongoing impact on the environment.
With its impressive surface area, the Mississippi has also become a powerful reference point for driving conversations about sustainability initiatives such as green energy and alternative water sources. The effects of climate change, along with population growth, industrial agriculture and other human activities, are focusing a renewed attention on the management and protection of this powerful river system.
Agencies and research centers are developing new models and approaches to understanding and measuring the surface area of the Mississippi in order to chart its future. Such models are becoming increasingly sophisticated to account for changes in the environment. At the same time, policies and frameworks that govern the watershed’s management and protection are garnering attention and support as the reality of the river’s changing surface area becomes ever clearer.
The future of the Mississippi is ultimately in the hands of humanity; however with better collective understanding and commitment to its protection, positive steps can and will be taken to ensure the health and longevity of this iconic and powerful river system.
