Abstract
The present study aims to investigate the dynamics of channel bar morphology of river Raidak-II within the Himalayan foreland basin on multi-decadal timescales (1980–2020). Multi-temporal Landsat satellite images have been used for identifying and monitoring different types of channel bars and their morphological changes. Here, several indices (braiding index, total sinuosity and mode of bar development) are used to measure the braiding intensity. Additionally, fluvio-hydrological and field investigation methods have been adopted to assess the channel form and behaviour affecting the evolution of channel bars. Further, sediment grain size distribution has been analysed to understand the reach-scale variation of instream sediment characteristics. The results show that higher value of all the braiding indices in reach-1 indicates its high braiding intensity compared to other reaches of the river. Numerical investigation shows spatiotemporal dynamics of bar morphology (bar length, bar width, bar area and bar perimeter) of nine stable bars during the period 2000–2020. This study shows the reach-scale variation of different fluvio-hydraulic parameters, which are highly associated with the bar dynamics. Grain size analysis reveals that most of the materials are coarser in the upper and middle reach of the river. Consequently, coarser sediments are being deposited in high energy flow environment of upper and middle reach while finer sediments are deposited by low energy flow regime in the lower reach. However, morphological changes of different types of channel bars indicate their dynamic nature. These changes have occurred due to the collective effects of different factors, including variable discharge, frequent floods, physiographic control, active tectonics, huge sediment supply and channelisation in the study area.
Research Highlights
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The present study shows higher value of braiding Index, total sinuosity and bar mode in reach-1 indicating its higher braiding intensity compared to another two reaches of the river.
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The study indicates spatiotemporal dynamics of bar length, bar width, bar area and bar perimeter during the period of 2000–2020.
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This scientific study exhibits reach scale variation of different fluvio-hydraulic parameters which are highly associated with the spatiotemporal dynamics of bar morphology.
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The scientific analysis revealed that different types of bars have been developed and modified in the study area due to different natural and anthropogenic factors during recent past time.
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Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge the USGS for supplying satellite images and the Central Water Commission, Govt. of India (CWC, Govt. of India), Jalpaiguri, for providing monsoon season discharge data of river Raidak-II. The authors are also highly thankful to the GSI for providing information related to the geology and geomorphology of the study area.
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The corresponding author designed the conceptual framework. Both the corresponding author and first author designed and contributed to the methodological development. All authors contributed to the data collection and field investigation while first and second authors analysed the data. The second author performed the software work and prepared all maps. The first author contributed to the initial manuscript writing and prepared all tables. The corresponding author reviewed and edited the whole initial manuscript. The whole work was supervised by the corresponding author.
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Ghosh, S., Mandal, P. & Bera, B. Dynamics of channel bar morphology on multi-decadal timescales in a braided river within Himalayan foreland basin, India. J Earth Syst Sci 132, 168 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-023-02187-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12040-023-02187-x