Impact of estuarine processes and hydro-meteorological forcing on landform changes: a remote sensing, GIS and statistical approach

作者：Deepika B; Avinash Kumar; Jayappa Katihalli Siddappa^*

来源：Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 2015, 8(2): 711-726.

DOI：10.1007/s12517-014-1264-7

• Anthropogenic activities
• Barrier spit
• Braided islands
• Estuarine morphology

Changes in estuarine morphology and landforms (braided islands, mudflats, barrier spits and marshy land) of Gangolli estuary, west coast of India, have been studied using topographic maps and satellite images of the last 45 years (1967-2012). The seasonal fluctuations in hydrometeorological (river discharge, runoff, rainfall, relative humidity and temperature) conditions play an important role in morphological changes of landforms. The computed results were recorded no significant relationship (p>0.050) between areal extents of the different landforms (except Is7 and Mf3) and hydro-meteorological parameters. The correlation analysis suggests that similar to 65 % of the landforms show medium (r=0.3-0.5) to high (r=0.5-1.0) strength of association between areal extent versus discharge, runoff and temperature. However, similar to 80 % of the landforms show high to medium strength of association between areal extent versus rainfall and relative humidity. The study confides that gradual accumulation of sediment brought by rivers and eventually drifted into the estuary by waves and tidal currents is responsible for stabilisation and growth of the different landforms such as estuarine banks, braided islands and spits. By contrast, both natural and anthropogenic activities have played a major role in dynamic changes of estuarine morphology and landforms of Gangolli estuary, but human interventions especially construction of harbour, sand mining and reclamation are the most significant factors.

• 出版日期2015-2