Fluvial Systems in the Anthropocene: Process, Response and Modelling

Description

This book addresses the various factors affecting fluvial systems, the processes governing them, system responses arising from human-nature interventions, and geospatial and geo-ecological modeling to understand system behaviour better and restore degraded ecosystems around the globe. Thanks to their hydrological and agro-ecological advantages, humans have settled along riverbanks since the dawn of civilization. Thus, the ancient "ecumene" (settlements) were located near major rivers worldwide. This legacy of river-based civilizations continues to this day in many forms. However, in the course of the 'Anthropocene' era, countless fluvial systems have been altered by human interventions in the form of large-scale dams and barrages, changes in land use and land cover, road-stream crossings, mining of sand and gravel, mushrooming of brickfield, expansion of modern agriculture, industrial growth, and urbanization. Thus, the present-day development pattern threatens fluvial systems, especially riverine morphology and ecosystems. In brief, human-induced morphological changes, water pollution, eutrophication, and related damages to aquatic organisms are the major threats to fluvial systems. Thus, maintaining the 'environmental flow' of the world's major rivers to preserve the proper functioning of riverine ecosystems and promote sustainable development is a global challenge. Preface Contents Editors and Contributors Fluvial Systems in the Anthropocene: Important Concepts, Issues and Research Needs 1 Introduction 2 Stages of Anthropogenic Modifications in Fluvial System 3 Modern River Systems and Human Activity 4 Human Activity and River Metamorphosis 5 Plastics in Fluvial Deposits 6 Application of Geomorphic Concepts in Anthropocene Rivers 7 Living with Rivers 8 Research Needs 9 Summary of the Chapters 10 Conclusions References Discoursing River from Physical and Social Backdrops 1 Introduction 2 Physical Perspectives 3 Dissection of Rivers and River Basins 3.1 Graphical Dissection 3.2 Dissection Through Field Operation 3.3 Dissection of Watershed 3.4 Intensive Dissection Through Virtual and Field Operation 4 Discoursing Rivers from Economic Backdrop 5 Ecological Doctrine of Rivers and River Basins 6 Philosophy of Reductionism and Ecological Holism 7 Discoursing Rivers and Riverine Ecology from Socio-Cultural Backdrop 7.1 Literary Perspective References Rivers in Distress: A Geo-Ecological Consideration 1 Introduction 2 Statement of the Problem 3 Analysis 4 Concluding Remarks References Incorporating Hydromorphological Assessments in the Fluvial Geomorphology Domain for Transitioning Towards Restorative River Science—Context, Concepts and Criteria 1 Introduction 2 The Growing Need for River Restoration 2.1 Types of River Restoration 3 The Changing Science of River Restoration 3.1 Significance of Ecological River Restoration 4 Restoration Components—Stream Corridors and Riparian Buffers 4.1 Demarcating Stream Corridors and Riparian Buffers 5 Why Focus on Stream Corridors and Riparian Buffers for Ecological River Restoration? 6 Linking Ecogeomorphic Principles, River Health and Stream Corridor Restoration 6.1 The Emergent Hydromorphological Approach for Guiding River Restoration 6.2 Hydromorphological Assessment Frameworks: Concepts and Methods 7 River Restoration Catchphrases 8 Challenges Faced in India for River Restoration 8.1 Hydromorphological Framework Based River Health Studies in India 9 Existing Research Gaps 10 Conclusion References The Role of Rivers on Man and Society Reflected in Literature: A Critical Study of a Few Selected River-Oriented Popular Bengali Novels in Geographical Perspective 1 Introduction 2 Methodology 3 Brief Background of the Selected Texts 4 Discussion of the Contexts of Literary Expressions of Certain Facts Under the Purview of Geography 4.1 Spatiotemporal Aspects of the Story Telling 4.2 Facets of Subalternity 4.3 Social Conflict and Integrity 4.4 Personification of the River 5 Conclusion References An Assessment of Human Impact on Bhagirathi River in Murshidabad District: From Reverence to Responsibility 1 Introduction 2 Study Area 3 Methodology 4 Field Samples 5 Results 6 Discussion 7 Implications of the Study 8 Scope for Development of River Systems to Service Societies 9 Conclusions References Environmental Perception and River Rejuvenation: A Study of the Mithi River, Maharashtra, India 1 Introduction 2 Study Area 3 Materials and Methods 4 Results 5 Discussion 6 Are There Any Areas in Which We Fail? 7 The Role of Citizens 8 Conclusion References An Integrated Assessment of Flood Risk Using Geospatial and Multi-Criteria Based Analysis: A Case Study from Mayurakshi River Basin, India 1 Introduction 2 Study Area 3 Materials and Methods 3.1 Materials 3.2 Methodology 4 Geospatial Inventory of Different Causative Factors Responsible for Flood Susceptibility and Flood Vulnerability 4.1 Flood Susceptibility Factors 4.2 Flood Vulnerability Factors 5 Results and Discussion 5.1 Geospatial Distribution of Flood Susceptibility Index (FSI) 5.2 Geospatial Distribution of Flood Vulnerability Index (FVI) 5.3 Geospatial Distribution of Flood Risk Index (FRI) 6 Conclusion References An Empirical Assessment of the Dynamics of River Morphology of Ajay River, India 1 Introduction 2 Materials and Methodology 2.1 Study Area 2.2 Data Collection and Processing 2.3 Hydraulic Geometry Analysis 2.4 Pool-Riffle Analysis 2.5 Grain Size Analysis 3 Results and Discussions 4 Conclusions References Analysis of Fluvial Morphometry and Prioritization of Pagla Jhora Micro Watershed of River Mahananda in Darjeeling District, West Bengal, India 1 Introduction 2 Morphometric Analyses 3 Study Area 4 Objectives Behind the Study 5 Methodology 6 Result and Discussions 6.1 Digital Elevation Model with Drainage Network 6.2 Contour Map and the Map on Absolute Relief 6.3 Relative Relief Map and Hypsometric Integral Map 6.4 Drainage Density Map 6.5 Bifurcation Ratio 6.6 Dissection Index and Elongation Ratio 6.7 Form Ratio and the Ruggedness Number Map 6.8 Drainage Basin Area Map and Regression Analyses 7 Conclusion References Watershed Prioritization Based on Morphometric Analysis Using Geospatial Technique in the Upper Kasai Sub-Watershed of Purulia District, West Bengal (India) 1 Introduction 2 Materials and Methods 2.1 Study Area 2.2 Methodology 2.3 Data used 2.4 Data Analysis 3 Result and Discussion 3.1 Watershed Prioritization Using Morphometric Technique 3.2 Watershed Prioritisation Using Delivery Ratio 3.3 The Necessity of Watershed Prioritization 3.4 Estimation of Soil Erosion 3.5 Soil Conservation and Management Plan 3.6 Water Resource Management 3.7 Land Resource Development Plan 4 Conclusion References Morphometric Attributes and Land Cover–Land Use: A Correlation and Association for an Interactive Analysis on Integrated Watershed Development in the Upper Kasai Basin, West Bengal, India 1 Introduction 2 Aims and Objectives of the Study 3 Methodology and Data Base 4 Study Area 5 Results and Discussion 6 Degree of Correlation 7 Conclusion and Suggestions References Morphometric Analysis to Prioritize for Flood Risk of Sub-Watersheds of Teesta (Sikkim and West Bengal) Through Hazard Degree (HD) and Principal Component Analysis with Weighted Sum Approach (PCAWSA) 1 Introduction 2 Study Area 3 Methodology 4 Result and Discussion 5 Linear variable 6 Areal Variables 7 Shape Variable 8 Flood Priority Rank Based on Hazard Degree Method Result 9 Flood Priority Rank Based on Principal Component Analysis with Weighted-Sum Approach Results 10 Weighted-Sum Analysis 11 Conclusion References An Appraisal of Spatio—Temporal Occurrence of Fluvial Hazard: Case Study of Flood in the Districts of Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar (West Bengal, India) 1 Introduction 2 Study Area 3 Objectives 4 Data Base and Methodology 5 Analysis and Assessment 6 Conclusion References Spatiotemporal Dynamics of a Poldered River System in Lower Bengal Delta, Bangladesh 1 Introduction 2 Study Area 3 Materials and Methods 3.1 Data Acquisition 3.2 Data Processing 3.3 Data Analysis 4 Results 4.1 Sinuosity 4.2 Channel Width of Hari River 4.3 Channel Migration of Hari River 5 Discussion on the Findings 5.1 Classification of the Channels on the Basis of Sinuosity 5.2 Factors Associated with Sinuosity of Hari River 6 Conclusion References Anthropogeomorphic Understanding of the Damodar Fan Delta, India 1 Introduction 2 Study Area 3 Data Used and Methodology 3.1 Database 3.2 Data Processing and Verification 3.3 Channel Planform Properties 3.4 Extraction of Criteria 4 Fluvial Sub-systems of the DFD Region 4.1 The Banka Subsystem 4.2 Gangur-Behula Subsystem 4.3 The Subsystem of the Old Damodar Course 4.4 Overlapping Segment 4.5 Kana-Ghia-Kunti Subsystem 4.6 Kana Damodar Subsystem 5 Topographical and Planform Characteristics of the Sub-systems 5.1 Banka Subsystem 5.2 Gangur-Behula Subsystem 5.3 The Subsystem of Old Damodar 5.4 Overlapping Segment 5.5 Kana-Ghia-Kunti Subsystem 5.6 Kana Damodar Subsystem 6 Nature of Human Encroachment 6.1 Percentage of Channel Length Fragmented into Ponds 6.2 Percentage of Channel Length Converted to Agricultural Plots 6.3 Percentage of Channel/Levee Length Converted to Settlements 6.4 No. of Bridge Piers and Culverts 6.5 Total No. of Fragmented Segments 6.6 Percentage of the Dredged Segment to the Total Length Measured 6.7 Percentage of Agricultural Land Within the Buffer 6.8 Percentage of Settlement within the Buffer 7 Overview of Direct Anthropogenic Impact on Channel Confinement 8 Discussion 9 Conclusion References Analyzing Historical Evolution and Decay of Jamuna River (West Bengal) Using Multi-temporal Satellite Images and GIS 1 Introduction 2 The Study Area 3 Materials and Methodology 4 Results and Discussion 4.1 Origin and Flow Direction 4.2 Channel Morphology and Hydraulic 4.3 Channel Shifting and Degradation 5 Conclusion References Impact of COVID-19 on River Health in India 1 Introduction 1.1 Research Methodology 2 Positive Impacts of COVID- 19 Lockdown on Rivers in India 2.1 River Ganga 2.2 River Damodar 2.3 Pitiable Condition of the Rivers During the Second Wave of COVID- 19 in India 3 Negative Impacts of COVID-19 on River Health in India 3.1 Increase in Usage of Face Masks, Gloves and PPE Kits 3.2 Improper Disposal of the Medical Wastes 4 Relation Between River Health and Society in India 5 Suggestions to Maintain Good River Health 6 Conclusion References A Cross-Sectional Study on the Water Quality and Ecosystem Health of the Jalangi and Bhagirathi River and Their Selected Oxbow-Lakes 1 Introduction 2 Database and Methodology 2.1 Study Area 2.2 Data Sources 2.3 Methods of Data Processing 3 Results and Discussion 3.1 Descriptive Statistics of Water Quality Parameters and Status 3.2 Comprehensive Pollution Index and Heavy Metal Pollution Index 3.3 Assessing Water Quality for Ecological Health 3.4 Comparative Assessment of River and Oxbow-Lake Water Quality 4 Conclusions References Contrasting Diffusive Methane Emission from Two Closely Situated Aquaculture Ponds of Varying Salinity Situated in a Wetland of Eastern India 1 Introduction 2 Methodology 2.1 Study Sites 2.2 Sampling Strategy 2.3 Pisciculture in FWP and OHP 2.4 Biogeochemical Analysis 3 Results 3.1 Variability of Physicochemical Parameters 3.2 Variability of Primary Productivity-Related Parameters 3.3 Variability in pCH4(a), pCH4(w) and Air–Water CH4 Flux 3.4 Relationship Between pCH4(w) and Biogeochemical Variables 3.5 Diurnal Variation in pCH4(w) and Atmosphere-Pond CH4 Flux 4 Discussion 4.1 Uncertainties and Scope for Future Studies 5 Conclusion References Soil Loss Estimation Using Rainfall Erosivity and Soil Erodibility of RUSLE Model in the Jayanti River Basin (Jharkhand) 1 Introduction 2 Study Area 3 Materials 3.1 Dem 3.2 Climatic Data 3.3 Soil Data 3.4 RUSLE 4 Results and Discussion 5 Conclusion References Geo-Spatial Assessment of Irrigation-Induced Groundwater Depletion and Groundwater Prospect in an Alluvial River Basin of West Bengal 1 Introduction 2 Study Area 3 Materials and Methods 3.1 Data Set Preparation 3.2 Thematic Mapping of Periodic Groundwater Level 3.3 Quantitative Hydrogeological Techniques 3.4 AHP-Based Groundwater Potential Mapping 4 Results 4.1 Status of Groundwater Resource 4.2 Trend in Groundwater Depletion 4.3 Role of Irrigated Agriculture 4.4 Analysing Groundwater Recharge Potential 5 Discussion 6 Conclusion References Application of Geospatial Techniques to Demarcate Groundwater Availability Zone in Bangladesh 1 Introduction 2 Study Area 3 Data Sources and Methodology 3.1 Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) 4 Result and Discussion 4.1 Data Analysis 4.2 Delineation of Ground Water Availability Zone 5 Conclusion References The Mayo Tsanaga, Kaliao and Mizao (Maroua, Far North Cameroon): A Geoheritage for Socio-Economic Activities 1 Introduction 2 Study Area 3 Matériel Et Méthode 3.1 Bibliographic Research 3.2 Fieldwork 3.3 Laboratory Work 4 Results 4.1 Opening of Sand Quarries 4.2 Manufacture of Cinder Blocks and Other Products 4.3 Agriculture 4.4 Breeding 4.5 Drinking, Washing, Dishwashing, Bathing and Laundry 4.6 Sport 4.7 Geoeducation 4.8 Importance in Purifying the City and Reducing Flooding 5 Discussion 6 Conclusion References River Tourism in India: Its Role and Significance 1 Introduction 2 River and Tourism 3 River Tourism Destinations in India 4 River Tourism and Sustainable Development 5 Conclusion References