Abstract
River channels tend to modify and migrate due to
both anthropogenic influences and continuous natural changes in
environment, so can be subsequently lead to catastrophic effects
in case of floods. With the improvements in geospatial analysis
and availability of massive dataset it is possible to study fluvial
regimes in detail. Aim of this research was to identify potential
migration river channel zones and to assess the degree of
evolution in past two decades. Features analyzed, to assess
evolution, were River width, braid-channel ratio, river sinuosity
and riparian vegetation. River migration zones were identified
based on data from 1990 to 2010 and it was found that
substantial potential river migration zones are at Indus river in
Rajanpur district, Chenab river in Muzzafargarh and Jhang
districts ,moderate potential migrating zones are at Indus river
(in some zones of Rajanpur, DG Khan and Mianwali), Chenab
river (in some parts of Jhang and Muzaffargarh), Jhelum river
(in Jehlum and Khoshab), Ravi river (at end of Lahore), and
Sutlej river (near Pakpattan and Vehari districts) while all other
zones were observed to be falling in least potential migration
zones. In most potential migration zones, further calculated
attributes, that were river width, braids-channel ratio, river
sinuosity and riparian vegetation, were found to be undergone
through change at much impressive rates than other zones.
Understating river’s response in channel migration is essential to
set reliable targets for restoration efforts.
Burira Anam, Junaid Aziz Khan, Bilal Ahmad Munir. (2015) Assessment of River Evolution and Channel Migration Rates in the Fluvial Regime of Punjab Province of Pakistan, Journal of Space Technology , Volume 5, Issue 1.
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