Why is a bird-foot delta like that of the present-day Mississippi below New Orleans likely to change naturally toward one with the shape of an equilateral triangle like the upper-case Greek letter delta (?)?
A)Present-day distributaries have higher gradients than potential new ones.
B)Potential, new, major distributary channels have steeper gradients than existing channels.
C)Potential, new, distributary channels have higher gradients, causing downcutting of the existing channels.
D)Increased sediment loads since the mid-19th century have caused the major distributaries to be filled with sand.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

B) Potential, new, major distributary channels having steeper gradients than existing channels can lead to the formation of a more equilateral triangle-shaped delta. This is because steeper gradients in new channels allow for more efficient sediment transport and deposition, gradually reshaping the delta.

Why Is a Bird-Foot Delta Like That of the Present-Day