Sediment Remobilization off the Deltas of the North Shore

The RQM-MEOPAR project, titled “Natural Risks Associated with Sediment Remobilization and Impacts on Primary Productivity Dynamics in the St. Lawrence Estuary,” has enabled the mapping of numerous coastal areas along the deltas of the North Shore of the St. Lawrence. New bathymetric and sedimentological data have demonstrated the presence of active sedimentary processes on the coastal shelf and on the slopes of the deltas. Indeed, numerous sand bars—some of which have migrated over the past 15 years—indicate that storm events generate turbidity currents. These events are significant because they contribute to the loss of coastal sediments. They also constitute underwater natural hazards that may influence marine ecosystems. Monitoring these processes as part of the RQM-MEOPAR project provides a better understanding of the frequency and significance of these phenomena for the St. Lawrence Estuary system.