|
|
|
Abstract
Impact of Morphological Changes in Flood Plains of Yamuna River,India.
Radh Raman
JNU, New Delhi,
India
Email: ramanjnu@rediffmail.com
Several observations including recent satellite and topographical data have helped in the understanding the Yamuna river morphology. Many morphological features along channel have changed over time. Human interference in terms of regulation of flows and encroachment has led to further intensification of this process. In this study, upstream of Delhi up to Pan pat, the stretch of Yamuna has been divided into eight parts of interval of 5’ to identify the changes in the meandering pattern the river. Yamuna in the plains is highly dynamic and unstable and has frequently shifted its course. Older river terraces in the floodplains provide an idea about this shift. In the present study, recent changes in the course of the Yamuna have been determined with the help of GIS based analysis of stream location for 1970 (Toposheet) and 2002(Satellite image). Relative shift of the channel and meander loops in terms distance and direction have been also worked out to understand the dynamic behavior of the Yamuna. Changes in morphology of Yamuna have also led to changes in land use / land cover of the region. Rapid land use changes have taken place over the last few decades. In this study, land use change dynamics were investigated by the combined use of Remote sensing and GIS. Our objective is to determine land use change rates among the land use type in the selected stretch of the Yamuna floodplain over the years 1970 to 2002. Adopting Level II classification by National Land Use/Land Cover Classification, the study area has been classified into nine land use/land cover types- cultivable land, river channel, island and sandbars, fallow and wasteland, water bodies, scrub and grasses. Significant changes have registered in agricultural land, scrubs and grasses land and fallow land within the floodplain. These changes exert considerable influences on various hydrological phenomenon such as interception, infiltration and surface flow.
|
|
|