EFFECTS OF HURRICANE CAMILLE ON THE LANDSCAPE OF THE BRETON-CHANDELEUR ISLAND CHAIN AND THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI DELTA

Abstract : Air and ground reconnaissance immediately following the passage of Hurricane Camille disclosed significant modifications to the natural landscape of the Breton-Chandeleur Island arc and to the eastern portion of the lower Mississippi Delta. Considerable dissection and redeposition was evident along beach and barrier formations, and total obliteration dominated numerous sections. Trends of redistributed beach material strongly reflected the final direction of hurricane-induced mass transport of water. In the lower delta damage was mainly to marsh vegetation and was attributable to high water and surge currents directed almost entirely from north to south.