Prolonged dry spell in 2023 has actually considerably decreased Mississippi River levels, interfering with transportation, increasing shipping expenses, and threatening Louisiana’s drinking water materials.
In September, low water levels made it more tough to deliver items down the river and permitted a wedge of saltwater to move upstream.
Months of extreme heat and dry spell parched the Mississippi River in the summertime and early fall of2023 In September, low water levels minimal barge deliveries downriver and threatened drinking water materials in some Louisiana neighborhoods, according to the Associated Press.
Water levels were specifically low near Memphis,Tennessee The images listed below reveal the Mississippi River near Memphis on September 16, 2023 (upper), compared to September 10, 2021 (lower). The river was considerably lost weight in 2023, exposing a few of the river bottom.
Satellite picture of the Mississippi River near Memphis on September 16, 2023.
Satellite picture of the Mississippi River near Memphis on September 10, 2021.
This is the 2nd year in a row dry spell has actually triggered the river to be up to near-record lows at numerous evaluates. On September 26, 2023, the river level at a gauge in Memphis was -1026 feet, near to the record low level, -1081 feet, determined at the exact same put on October 21,2022 That was the most affordable level tape-recorded there given that the start of National Weather Service records in1954 Water levels, or “gauge heights,” do not suggest the depth of a stream; rather, they are determined with regard to a selected recommendation point. That is why some gauge height measurements are unfavorable.
Farther upstream, water levels at New Madrid, Missouri, have actually been around -5 feet– near the minimum operating level– given that early September2023 Water levels on the Mississippi generally decrease in the fall and winter season, and in 2022, the river did not get that low till mid-October
A hot, dry summertime is the primary factor water levels dropped so low in2023 Across the world, temperature levels in summertime 2023 were 1.2 ° C( 2.1 ° F )warmer than average. In the U.S., Louisiana and Mississippi experienced their most popular Augusts on record, according to NOAA.
U.S. Drought Monitor map for September 26, 2023.
The U.S. Drought Monitor map above– the item of a collaboration in between the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln– reveals conditions throughout the week of September 20-26,2023 The map illustrates dry spell strength in progressive tones of orange to red. It is based upon an analysis of environment, soil, and water condition measurements from more than 350 federal, state, and regional observers around the nation. < period class ="glossaryLink" aria-describedby ="tt" data-cmtooltip ="<div class=glossaryItemTitle>NASA</div><div class=glossaryItemBody>Established in 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an independent agency of the United States Federal Government that succeeded the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). It is responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. Its vision is "To discover and expand knowledge for the benefit of humanity." Its core values are "safety, integrity, teamwork, excellence, and inclusion." NASA conducts research, develops technology and launches missions to explore and study Earth, the solar system, and the universe beyond. It also works to advance the state of knowledge in a wide range of scientific fields, including Earth and space science, planetary science, astrophysics, and heliophysics, and it collaborates with private companies and international partners to achieve its goals.</div>" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" > NASA contributes measurements and designs that help the dry spell tracking effort.
During that week, about38 percent of the adjoining U.S. was experiencing dry spell.Lack of rainfall and heats over a number of months seriously dried soils in states along theMississippiRiverValleyTheDroughtMonitor reported that80 percent of soils inLouisiana were dry( brief or extremely brief on water) sinceSeptember24And for the majority of states in the river valley, over50 percent of topsoil was dry or extremely dry.
Shallow conditions along the river cut off regular deliveries of items. According to the Associated Press, barge business minimized the weight brought in numerous deliveries in September since the river was not deep adequate to accommodate their regular weight. Much of U.S. grain exports are carried down the Mississippi, and according to AP, the expense of these deliveries fromSt Louis southward has actually increased 77 percent above the three-year average.
The absence of freshwater streaming into the Gulf of Mexico has actually likewise permitted saltwater to make its method up the river and into some water treatment plants in southern Louisiana, according to the AssociatedPress Some parts of Plaquemines Parish are under drinking water advisories and have actually depended on mineral water for cooking and drinking given that June.
Significant rains would be required to eliminate saltwater in the river inPlaquemines According to the National Weather Service’s Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center, the projection does not look appealing. If adequate rains does not show up prior to mid-to-late October, saltwater might make its method to New Orleans.
NASA Earth Observatory images by Lauren Dauphin, utilizing Landsat information from the U.S. Geological Survey and information from the United States Drought Monitor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
