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Geo-environmental mapping |
| Our first
year of study included (1) compilation of existing information, acquisition and processing
of satellite imagery (Landsat, Radarsat, JERS), (2) preliminary geo-environmental mapping
of land-cover units that show the interplay of geology with the distribution of plant
communities, (3) initial evaluation of active processes, and (4) development of a
preliminary understanding of the geologic evolution of the delta. We can subdivide the Orinoco Delta into the upper delta plain and the lower delta plain on the basis of land elevation, frequency of flooding, depth to ground water, sediment type, salinity, vegetation, and land use. Coastal processes are a critical component that in interaction with the rivers (hydrology) create the distinctive delta landform. In the Orinoco Delta, spectacular mud volcanoes form in reponse to the rapid deposition of sediment and tectonic influences near the active margin of the continent. We also consider some preliminary conclusions about the relationships between natural processes on the delta and human impacts. |
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Please send comments,
questions, or suggestions to Edgar Guevara.
Copyright 1998 Bureau of Economic Geology