Remote Sensing-based Analysis of Critical Bends of Kushiyara River in Bangladesh

Abstract

Streams are continually changing position as a consequence of hydraulic forces acting on their beds and banks. This stress is mainly a result of climatic changes from year to year in the amount of waterflow variation that occurs in the stream [1]. The present study has been conducted to scrutinize the meandering parameters at critical bends of Kushiyara river using remote sensing technology and geographic information system (GIS). The name Kushiyara river used here represents the river reach from India border, Zokigonj, to the confluence with Kalni river. The width of the Kushiyara river changes over time. Eight critical bends have been selected over different places which are changing with the time. The sinuosity of the river also varies from 1.11 to 2.24. The minimum width as found was 96.12 m near fertilizer industry; Fenchugonj (chainage 90.1 km) in 1997, the maximum width was 272.9 m at Ranigonj union, Sunamgonj (chainage 156.5 km) in 2006. The study shows that the meandering ratio varies from 0.32 to 1.23. Wavelength of Kushiyara river varies from 1062.85 m to 2240.57 m. The river shows its characteristic relation between the radius of curvature and width.

Keywords: River morphology, bend migration, GIS, remote sensing, GPS, ArcGIS 9.2