AERIAL IMAGERY FOR MAPPING MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES AND SURFICIAL SOILS IN THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY.

The major flood on the Mississippi River in 1973 initiated a broad program of studies to delineate morphologic and geologic changes in the river. A summary of the changes in the morphology of the river and an inventory of the surficial soils in the river valley was made in 1975. The surficial soils reconnaissance maps were interpreted from high-altitude (1:125,000) color infrared photography. The cost of various mapping methodologies is presented and optimum mapping procedures are proposed. The future applications and uses of the proposed mapping techniques are outlined.