In situ measurements of saltwater flux through tidal passes of Lake Pontchartrain estuary by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in September 2008

Abstract

Storm surge induced saltwater flux through multiple inlets has never been documented. This article reports in situ measurements of saltwater flux through major tidal passes by two consecutive storm surges impacting Lake Pontchartrain estuary in Louisiana during the first two weeks in September 2008. The main peak of inward saltwater flux lasted for 1.9 days during the flood, followed by more than 8 days of outward salt flux. The salt flux rate reached close to 200 tons/sec through the northern channel and 16 tons/sec through the southern channel. Outward flux of salt during Gustav amounted to more than 16 million tons during the receding stage, more than twice of that measured for the flux into the lake. Apparently, overland inundation, which was not measured, caused this biased estimate of influx of salt. Hurricane Ike, however, did not cause such a dramatic difference in influx and outflux of salt. Copyright 2009 by the American Geophysical Union.