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| U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey National Wetlands Research Center 700 Cajundome Blvd. Lafayette, LA 70506 |
Contact: Gaye S. Farris |
(Note to Editors: Images available; www.nwrc.usgs.gov/hurricane/postivanphotos.htm)
Aircraft surveys of the Gulf Coast reveal that mainland damage may have been worse had barrier islands not reduced some of the impacts of Hurricane Ivan. Researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey's National Wetlands Research Center used experimental remote sensing techniques and digital photography to gather images as they flew the coast Friday and Saturday (Sept. 17 and 18) from the Chandeleur Islands off Louisiana to Panama City, Fla.
The Chandeleur Islands, a chain of barrier islands just south of New Orleans, suffered extensive damage, reminiscent of damage caused by Hurricane Georges in 1998. As of Saturday, much of the chain was underwater, and the Curlew and Gosier Islands (originally two islands of the chain but cut into four by previous hurricanes) have completely disappeared under Gulf waters.
The Chandeleur Islands are important because they protect the mainland of Louisiana from storms and are valuable for commercial and recreation fishing. They are also one of the four Gulf of Mexico wintering grounds for migratory redhead ducks, which feed on the islands' seagrass beds.
For comparison pictures of the Chandeleur Islands and other coastal features, see www.nwrc.usgs.gov/hurricane/postivanphotos.htm.This site will be periodically updated for the public, resource managers, researchers and emergency personnel as video and still photography are made available. For additional Hurricane Ivan information, including videos of Ivan’s impacts and an index of prehurricane aerial photographs, see www.nwrc.usgs.gov/hurricane/ivansf.htm
Images at the Web site will include barrier island and coastal areas associated
with the Chandeleur Islands off Louisiana; Cat, Ship, Horn and Petit Bois
Islands off Mississippi; Dauphin Island, Gulf Shores and Perdido Key off Alabama;
and Santa Rosa Island to the shoreline areas of Destin to Panama City, Fla.
Researchers are studying hurricane impacts and wetland damage, particularly
in the National Park Service's Gulf Islands National Seashore Park and the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Breton and Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuges.
A report of prehurricane surveys is available at www.nwrc.usgs.gov/hurricane/barrierislands.htm.
The USGS serves the nation by providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life.
To receive USGS news releases go to www.usgs.gov/public/list_server.html to subscribe.
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Return to National Wetlands Research Center News Releases.
The USGS serves the Nation by providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life.
To receive USGS news releases go to www.usgs.gov/public/list_server.html to subscribe.
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/releases/pr04_113.htm
Page Contact Information: nwrcweb@usgs.gov
Page Last Modified: Tuesday, 12-Aug-2008 16:28:37 EDT
