Final answer:
Monitoring Mississippi River flow is essential for tsunami prediction due to potential changes in river discharge signaling seismic activities that may lead to tsunamis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The flow of water out of the Mississippi River should be monitored to predict tsunamis in the Gulf of Mexico because variations in river discharge may be indicative of disruptions or events that can potentially generate tsunamis. The Mississippi River's drainage basin covers a vast area, including 40% of the U.S., and the river's behavior, whether in terms of volume, flow, or sediment deposition, can be influenced by a multitude of factors including seismic activities. Monitoring the river's flow is crucial for early warning systems as sudden changes could signify undersea earthquakes or landslides that may lead to tsunami formation. Additionally, stream gauges and flood frequency graphs, like those used to assess river behavior during flood events on Sweetwater Creek, are essential tools for understanding water dynamics that can apply to large bodies of water like the Gulf of Mexico.