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Mississippi River - How Long would it continue to flow without precipitation?
Posted on 10/18/21 at 10:08 am
Posted on 10/18/21 at 10:08 am
Driving over the Mississippi River Bridge as I do on my daily commute, I started to think about the amount of water that flows by on a constant basis. I know the MR pales in comparison to the flow of the Amazon, and right now the river is low, but its still a tremendous amount of water. Let's say for whatever reason, the US gets hit by a huge drought, particularly the Miss river drainage basin. How long would it take for the river to quit flowing?
Mississippi river drainage basin for reference.
Mississippi river drainage basin for reference.
19
Posted on 10/18/21 at 10:09 am to Emteein
There is a differential equation to figure this out but Im not doing it
Posted on 10/18/21 at 10:09 am to Emteein
It’s either 350 days or 40 days or both.
Posted on 10/18/21 at 10:09 am to Emteein
350 days
Posted on 10/18/21 at 10:10 am to Emteein
350 days til it all dumps out.
Posted on 10/18/21 at 10:12 am to Emteein
It's way too early on a Monday to be hitting the bong.
Posted on 10/18/21 at 10:12 am to Emteein
Posted on 10/18/21 at 10:13 am to Emteein
quote:
How long would it take for the river to quit flowing?
depends on the time of year. part of the year the flow is from snow/ice. So it would take a longer drought during that period than it would right now.
Posted on 10/18/21 at 10:15 am to ashy larry
quote:
without precipitation?
quote:
part of the year the flow is from snow/ice
Posted on 10/18/21 at 10:16 am to Emteein
You mean, as in the water cycle stops happening altogether?
Posted on 10/18/21 at 10:17 am to DrEdgeLSU
quote:
You mean, as in the water cycle stops happening altogether?
As in there is no precipitation, and thus there is no snow or ice
quote:
Mississippi River - How Long would it continue to flow without precipitation?
Posted on 10/18/21 at 10:18 am to DrEdgeLSU
quote:
You mean, as in the water cycle stops happening altogether?
It’s a very silly question with a ridiculous premise. It deserves an equally silly answer
Posted on 10/18/21 at 10:27 am to ashy larry
quote:
depends on the time of year. part of the year the flow is from snow/ice.
Some of that is essentially glacial type melt. In addition, some of the flow is spring fed. I don't know if those two alone are enough to keep a flow all the way to the Gulf absent ANY precipitation.
Posted on 10/18/21 at 10:27 am to Emteein
A long time to completely dry out because of drainage from cities using groundwater and natural springs in the mountains that eventually drain into rivers.
It wouldn’t be navigable but it would have a flow. You’d have to run completely out of ground water as well or not pump any. For a such a large drainage basin it’s pretty much impossible to happen
It wouldn’t be navigable but it would have a flow. You’d have to run completely out of ground water as well or not pump any. For a such a large drainage basin it’s pretty much impossible to happen
Posted on 10/18/21 at 10:29 am to Emteein
how long does it take a drop of water to flow from that little bit up in canada all the way down to the gulf?
if there is no rain, snow melt or anything replenishing it then that would be it, although there are some spring feed streams I am sure, but it seems like you want to eliminate all sources.
if there is no rain, snow melt or anything replenishing it then that would be it, although there are some spring feed streams I am sure, but it seems like you want to eliminate all sources.
Posted on 10/18/21 at 10:31 am to MorbidTheClown
quote:
I think the point being that, in winter…while no longer getting precip, you would have fallen snowpack that would then melt.
Posted on 10/18/21 at 10:34 am to tigahfromtheham
quote:
350 days
Came in here to post this
Posted on 10/18/21 at 10:39 am to geauxtigers810
quote:
It’s either 350 days or 40 days or both.
Once it’s gotten the vaccine it should flow forever
Posted on 10/18/21 at 10:50 am to ColdTurkey
Assuming there is no snow or rain, ever again, You need to know the volume of water in the entire basin and the flow rate.
What would be interesting is the back flow. If the gulf is at X level, and the river is X deep, how much water will not flow into the gulf?
What would be interesting is the back flow. If the gulf is at X level, and the river is X deep, how much water will not flow into the gulf?
This post was edited on 10/18/21 at 10:52 am
Posted on 10/18/21 at 10:53 am to Hermit Crab
quote:
how long does it take a drop of water to flow from that little bit up in canada all the way down to the gulf?
IIRC around 90 days.
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