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Geomorphic control on wetland classification: a case study in Himalayan Floodplain region

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Abstract

Wetland classification is the primary tool to identify and determine wetland landscapes, but it seems to be very difficult as wetlands are the transitional zone between aquatic boundary and terrestrial boundary. Wetlands are also found in different hydroclimatic and topographic settings. Recently ecological wetland classification focuses on hydrogeomorphic unit to know the physical background of the wetland. In most of the cases, the topographic terms like slopes, flats have been given more importance than the geomorphological terms like ox-bow, floodplain. Floodplain wetlands in the Himalayan foothill region are very dynamic in nature. In Tufanganj C.D Blocks of Coochbehar district, many floodplain wetlands are evolved in the form of ox-bow lakes, meander scrolls and paleochannels. These wetland landform adjustments have been taking place as a result of spatio-temporal changes of rivers. The study focuses on the process–landform relationships and timescales of landform adjustments which is helpful for further wetland classification and management. In collaboration with both the participation of geomorphology community in wetland science and awareness by ecology community, characterizing wetlands as dynamic landscapes will be more eminent for wetland research and management.

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Notes

  1. A floodplain is a place of sediment storage.

  2. An area of low-lying land which is flooded in wet seasons and typically remains waterlogged at all times.

  3. An area of low-lying, uncultivated ground where water collects.

  4. Tarai zones, lying immediately after Bhabar in the south of the Siwalik Himalayas result into marshy land and luxurious vegetation growth.

  5. A series of ridges is formed by the migration of point bars.

  6. An abandoned channel in floodplain region is commonly formed by channel avulsion.

  7. A vertical adjustment involving sediment deposition either in a river channels bed or a floodplain surface.

  8. The process of formation of a new channel on a floodplain sometimes resulting into abandonment of old channel.

  9. SI = 1 or close to it indicates straight pattern whereas SI > 1.5 is considered as meandering channel.

  10. Channel migration is a natural long term geologic process providing important habitat and natural productive ecosystem that occurs quickly during floods.

  11. Unsupervised classification determines the software based analysis of an image without the user providing sample classes. In this classification grouping of pixels are done with same characteristics.

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Acknowledgements

The author is thankful to the respected authority of Geological Survey of India and Survey of India (Kolkata) for providing the survey of India topographical maps used in this research study. I am also highly grateful to my supervisor Dr. Rumki Sarkar, Head of the Department, Associate Professor, Department of Geography, Raiganj University, West Bengal for the guidance in connection with this original work. I also appreciate the role of United States Geological Survey (USGS) for their user-friendly distribution of LANDSAT satellite data throughout the world and exclusively thankful to the local residents for their assistance and guidance.

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  1. Department of Geography, Raiganj University, North Dinajpur, West Bengal, 733134, India

    Priyanka Kundu

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Kundu, P. Geomorphic control on wetland classification: a case study in Himalayan Floodplain region. Spat. Inf. Res. 29, 593–603 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41324-020-00367-1

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